Lemme just give you a little insight
My sister was programming at Hertz in Oklahoma City in the 1980s and making over $40,000 a year with less than 5 years experience.
That kind of money was available because of 2 things: a) Computer people back then weren't a dime a dozen by today's standard, and b) Oklahoma City wasn't a tech mecca and paid a premium for talent.
I don't know anything about Washington DC, other than I know it's expensive as can be to live there (I have relatives in Alexandria).
But, I knew people as mid-level programmers in Oklahoma City working at companies in the mid-to-late 90s (people I went to college with) making $65k.
In fact, people I knew classmates graduating from college and going to work for this communications company in Tulsa were starting at $38,000 a year in 1990.
So, $50,000 was a reasonable pay for someone with 5 years experience. I would probably have been a tech lead or team lead at that point.
So I'm no Mr. Internet Hero. Just someone who knows more about where I grew up than you do.
Thanks for your insight though, and your spat of profesionalism there.
