I suspect that depends a lot on location. A friend moved to Europe and software dev salaries there haven't undergone the massive rise we see in the US over the last 30 years.

I can't speak for the original commenter, but my dad is a software engineering dean with decades of experience. Yes, it's a massive pay cut.

Most certainly. But all the stress was also cut. There is very little stress in academia. Most of it is caused by the administration.

> There is very little stress in academia.

Are you sure about that? It seems to me the smaller the community and fewer the resources, the more 'intimate' the competition. Stories of feuds over parking spaces abound.