[central_va]

You assume that the locals are not into STEM because of lower salaries, where they are the highest compared to all other fields.

Wages for software and engineering are flat for 20 years. I know from first hand experience.

[sagar]

The average salary of a senior software developer in relatively cheap places like Dallas start at around $110k. The average salary for an architect starts at around $120k. Of course, this assumes relevant skill set, which is hardly stagnant. New tech every 5 years. Keep up or die.