<prompt> Human: Im a software engineer with a computer science background. Im originally from Michigan but have recently moved to California. In Michigan, my last job had a salary of 97k plus great benefits. In southern California, particularly Orange County, when Im applying for jobs the employers balk at my 90-100k salary expectation, WITHOUT good benefits.Im mind-blown. In a place with a MUCH higher cost of living, Im being offered what I got paid as a recent grad 70-80k. Mind you, I have had 5 years of professional experience since then, and my skill-set has dramatically improved grown. What am I missing here? Are there too many start-ups and software engineers in Southern California that the salaries have gone down? Can someone show me what Im missing here?Please exclude LA in this post. Sure, it has higher pay, but with 2 hours of commute one way, parking issues, not great living areas, etc.  <response>: Are there too many start-ups and software engineers in Southern California that the salaries have gone down? Yes. Unless you have a rare skillset youre just another worker drone. Stay in the Midwest where 90k is opulent. 