Wow, the salary increases are much more than the City/Local Government wages have increased in the past 5-7 years. All of a sudden the picture comes into view...

Mr. Math rolls over and mutters something about any "idiot could handle this one, you take it" then roll back over and goes to sleep. Though somewhat insulted, I shall give it a go.

$97,000 to $132,000 is a 36% increase. Though higher than the national average increase over the same seven year period, it is hardly an issue. Also, in 2001 the Silicon Valley was in the so-called Dot-Bomb economy. Salaries had been pushed up artificially high during the Dot-Com era then crashed back down.

"tech worker" Note that is not average worker.
If the retail, manufacturing, and services trades (all private) were separated,
it would not be this high. So... lets be sure we compare jobs and future
benefits when we compare $$.

How much is a tax backed gov. pension worth in current dollars - vs a private
401K that may or may not include employer contributions (no contribution =
not a benefit). Public employees assured of the current retirement system - have
already made that calculation. They cannot really expect their pensions , and at the
same time salary increases compared to those with NO EMPLOYER PENSIONS.

COL (inflation increases) are not a part of 401k s - but are a part of most
state and local pensions now.

The 85,000 now without tech jobs do not consider it much of a salary increase!