The higher paid PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric) union workers are making $360K in their final few years before retiring at age 55 (average) and then are receiving pensions commensurate with their most recent pay packets. Compare this with a software developer trajectory and we see a downward curve of diminishing salaries, stubbed out careers forcing people to reinvent themselves at age 40-something, and others accepting work at $100/hour, which is slim pickings for a software developer.

India owns the bottom 50-60% of the tech contractor market globally, so if you're in that space, you should move up or get out, unless you're OK working for Indian rates. I may get into trouble saying this, but it's true and we can't change it. Up. Or out.