[LUAU] Top 10 Best / Worst Cities For Software Developer Pay

[Julian Yap]

--- Maddog <maddog at heavymetalradio.net> wrote:
> I think it's more of a supply and demand proposition. There
> are not a lot of 
> software development companies here and worker demand is low,
> therefore 
> employers can pay whatever workers will accept and workers
> have to accept 
> what is offered or not work.

I think it's also a case of lack of talent pool (which has been
mentioned earlier).
 
> In some sectors there is a high demand, such as network
> engineers. There are 
> several network integrators that have had to hire workers from
> out of state. 
> Higher demand means better wages and employees have the upper
> hand and can 
> demand more money. The employer has to accept the higher
> salary demand 
> unless he wants to take his chances and look outside the state
> to find 
> someone for less (unlikely).

Is there greater demand for Network Engineers in Hawaii per
capita?  Or more so, there is a requirement for X number of
Network Engineers for Hawaii as a whole as a necessity. 
Similarly Systems Administrators...  "Just to get the job done".

Do Network Engineers command higher wages or just relatively
competitive wages in comparison to the US as a whole?
 
> So if Lingle was to "do something" about the situation, it
> would be to 
> encourage more software development companies to move here,
> i.e., tax 
> breaks. That would increase demand and competition for better
> workers and 
> would increase salaries.

Agreed.  It's the same concept that Network Engineers/SysAdmins
do not make an industry.  But who would want to come en masse
when we don't have the tech workers to fulfil the demand? 
Correct me if I'm wrong.

For example, why does Intel invest in Vietnam:
"A very vibrant population, an increasingly strengthened
education system, a strong workforce and a very forward-looking
government."
 - http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-11-18-vietnam_x.htm

On the software development front, I really think that Free
Software/Open Source is the path that Hawaii should take.  But
it seems as Free Software/Linux/etc.. has matured, Hawaii hasn't
matured with it?  There was more traffic back in 2002 on LUAU
than there is now.  But there are more Linux desktops and
servers installed now.

- Julian