Weird, I think it’s almost the opposite. I wouldn’t be in software if it didn’t at least allow for an upper-middle class lifestyle - I would probably have tried to either become a scientist, a brewer, or a banker. As a scientist I would maximize my mental interest and engagement in the work, as a brewer I would have the best lifestyle, and as a banker I would have the most money. Software right now is great because it does pretty well in all three categories, but if it paid just as well or a little more as being a scientist, I would have little reason to stick around in software.

Age is probably somewhat of a factor here since people who went into software before it was so highly paid likely didn’t have money as a huge motivator, compared to people who went into software more recently