On what planet are software salaries "stagnant?" In my experience we're in the middle of a huge seller's market for software engineers. I get contacted all the time by recruiters who are desperate to find good candidates. My salary has been far from stagnant, and I don't think I'm an outlier.
I'll second this.
Hmm... Seattle and Seattle. I wonder if there's a pattern?
Those companies would have a lot less hard time finding employees if they didn't expect us all to move across the entire damn country (diagonally, in my case!) for the "privilege." They need to try opening an office in Atlanta (for example), or hiring more non-foreign telecommuters.
I would feel nervous about recommending a CS degree to someone in their late 30s or early 40s because ageism is a very real thing in the tech industry.
Again, Seattle.
(At 30, I think I'm one of the
younger programmers at my office here in Atlanta. Quite a few of my coworkers are in their 40s or 50s.)
Another difference, by the way, is that -- contrary to what I've heard regarding places like Amazon and Microsoft -- I actually work 40 hours/week, not 60+. I'm not sure my real hourly rate would actually be any higher if I took a job at one of those kinds of companies...
Does anyone think it is a good idea to get an associates in Comp Sci
No. An associates is pointless: I don't think it will help you get through the HR degree filter (or at least, it won't help you much) and I doubt any school that offers associates' degrees would have decent instruction to begin with.
Personally, I'd either get at least a bachelor's (from a decent school) or do some free
MOOCs and try to get a job straight out of high school.