gross comp in 2002 adjusted for inflation would be ~$285K, vs this year @ ~$340K, but big difference is net — as a consultant, health & life insurance, travel to global conferences (an indulgence of mine), employer taxes and 401K/SEP IRA are considerable. I priced out a comparable open market family healthcare plan before taking the role I'm in now (large but youngish tech company you'd recognize) and it was shocking: almost $2,200/month vs ~$300/mo as a salaried full time employee. Counting benefits for 401K, stock discount purchase, and basically free travel to any conference reasonably related to my job, it's not even close. I get 6 weeks pid vacation and generous holidays, none of which are free as an independent. Also, because of a pre-existing condition, I am uninsurable if ACA is ever repealed, and forget about disability or life insurance (ironic thing is I'm probably measurably healthier at 48 than I ever was at 27). I have $1M coverage now, plus $100K for my SO.

So I look at it as plateauing, but rather I freely acknowledge I hit the lottery early from being in the right large city, at the right time, and happened to pick up and enjoy a skill that was in high demand (see Patrick McKenzie for the definitive wisdom on this, and negotiation). Sure, I worked my ass off, benefited from a great university, but mostly was just a smart guy who got lucky and motivated. In some other universe, who knows how things would have turned. But I have zero desire for the 60 hour work weeks of a corporate tech life on the "leadership" track, nor the soul-crushing grind of a daily 90-minute commute. When my oldest child took his first steps, I heard every detail. Over the phone, sitting in my corner office alone at like 8:00 on a week night. No thanks. Today, I own my own home on a beautiful, large private piece of land outside a medium sized city. My commute is from my bedroom to my upstairs office, except for a week or so every two months when I fly to HQ. I see my kids soccer and basketball games and I manage no one. I'm an "individual contributor" whose paid handsomely and get to work with some of the brightest engineers of my life and travel to awesome places to meet up with old friends. And yes, I do present occasionally, but I don't /have/ to to have my way paid. It's a good life, and this is exactly where I want to be.