1. ~175k is base + bonus, not including retirement stuff.<p>2. Combination of experience, keeping up to date on new technologies, having a good understanding of both high level functional programming techniques and low level performance.<p>3. I haven&#x27;t really figured it out.  My cost of living is probably 5k a month but can swing wildly depending on if I take vacations, go out to eat more often, etc.  I seem to save plenty though.<p>4. SE<p>5. Big Company<p>5a. Very, except you have to be somewhat pleasant to be around.  Not social or gregarious necessarily, just not a jerk from what I&#x27;ve seen.  Most people get very turned off from this. I was surprised to see how different interviews seem to go for candidates of similar technical merit but different personalities.<p>5b. Depends on their aptitude, how much free time they have? A few months to a couple years?