Many (senior) developers I know in Berlin get 80000€/year gross income. That is in the top 6% of incomes in Germany. (Top 6% income bracket in the USA would be 150000$/year.)
I don't even get 80k€/year and have a very luxurious and high quality life in Berlin.
The median software developer - out of nearly 1.3 million developers - in the US makes ~$107,000 per year for 2019. A senior developer should be up near $150,000 even outside the primary major tech cities. The top 10% tier of developers starts over $160,000.
You are using absolute numbers to make it look more extreme than it is. 107000$ are 94000€ at the moment. Considering the living cost in the USA, it might still be higher in the USA but not that extremely more
No, the numbers I quoted are correct. If they seem extreme, it's because they are compared to everybody else not named Switzerland. I'm using absolute numbers (what?) because those are the dollar wage figures directly from the BLS for software developers. Living costs in the US are not higher than in Germany. That is only true in the most expensive places like eg NYC, SF, Sea.
If you're in Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas or several dozen other major cities, cost of living is very reasonable in the US. Your healthcare costs are typically either entirely, or mostly covered by your employer if you're an engineer making $100k+. In Atlanta your all-in effective tax rate is under 30% at $110,000; in Dallas it's under 24%. What's the problem?
In Germany, with an 80000€ salary, what would be the monthly take home in your pocket? And I'm assuming they would take out taxes for health system, pension, vacation, etc.
In the US in an average taxed state, compare a $150K salary: After federal and state taxes, our old person medical and retirement (i.e. FICA), maximum retirement investment of about $19K, health insurance, disability insurance, dental, etc, one will end up with about $7200 a month or $86K / year in their pocket, which is roughly 42% taxes and retirement. This includes 3 weeks of vacation and 10 Federal holidays.
80k€ would net you between 40-50k€ after all taxes, health insurances and a basic retirement fund. The exact number depends on you having a family or not and many other factors.
In addition your employer pays an amount equal to about 10-15% of your gross salary into your health and retirement insurance. And this pay is on top of your salary. (Arbeitgeberanteil)
Holiday is always included with a minimum of 21 days a year for a full time job. And Germany has paid parental leave included if you start a family.
Yes, it absolutely is. And Berlin is the best example; we're even underpaid by German standards.