I'm not sure that I agree with the tenets of this article. Silicon Valley Engineers don't seem underpaid to me. Sure we could potentially make more in finance, but that doesn't mean we are underpaid. I feel like there are a number of things that I value (in the following order):
1) Exciting work
2) Large potential impact
3) Financial compensation
Notice that money is third, and that isn't an accident. I probably make less than many of my classmates who went into finance (although the difference is likely smaller that one might assume based on comparing "averages"). However, most of them don't really seem to like their jobs all that much. I get to work on interesting things that will hopefully have a large impact, and get paid pretty well for it (I've usually made significantly above the Silicon Valley "average").
In addition, I think that many people in finance are likely overpaid relative to the value they generate, and that there will be a correction at some point in the future.
1) Exciting work
2) Large potential impact
3) Financial compensation
Notice that money is third, and that isn't an accident. I probably make less than many of my classmates who went into finance (although the difference is likely smaller that one might assume based on comparing "averages"). However, most of them don't really seem to like their jobs all that much. I get to work on interesting things that will hopefully have a large impact, and get paid pretty well for it (I've usually made significantly above the Silicon Valley "average").
In addition, I think that many people in finance are likely overpaid relative to the value they generate, and that there will be a correction at some point in the future.