Assuming they’re already living in Seattle: pre tax, and supporting a family? According to a quick google, that’s ~$100k after tax, a 3BR in Seattle is ~$4k/mo so you’re left with $52k for everything else, in a HCOL area. I buy it.

Truth. I honestly don't know how most people are surviving right now.

Homelessness + loans (credit cards) are on the rise and births are on the decrease.

But to honestly answer the question, by either not living in large cities and commuting in, sharing those 3BRs, or staying home with parents. Shaving that 48k/year (post-tax) rent down to ~12k/year frees up a lot of money.

(Also if you're young, staying with your parents and saving ~100-200k in rent for a downpayment over 10 years just seems like a smart idea to me).

Are a lot of Seattle SWE jobs paying only $140k to non-juniors?

FAANG has a huge footprint in the town, you're going to have a hard time hiring people when you're paying less than half what they are.

For the first ten years of my career, I just assumed my resume would get passed over, that even though I was smart and capable, there was no point in trying to work at top tier places.

I was single and not a lavish spender so I didn't feel external pressure to try all that hard beyond having a low six figures job.

There are plenty of low prestige, mismanaged small companies that will pay low six figures and overwork people.

It's not even "first worlders", it's American software companies paying shitload of money. Try the same in Europe.

Or anywhere in America that's not a tech hub.