300K is on the lower end of salaries, esp. over 8 years. This is also just run-of-the-mill individual contributors that got in very late. Early employees, senior/leads/managers/directors/vp will make substantially more.
You're also assuming they did nothing with their earnings over those 8 years - when in reality most are invested in the markets which have killed it over the last decade.
I think people in tech are making a shitload more money then most realize.
There are a lot of people in tech making a lot of money. Particularly at FANG/startups that have exited, they can "FIRE" after less than 10 years of working. I know many people in this category.
During the pandemic many people also made some changes to their lives (bought a house, moved out the city, moonlight second job, started consulting remotely, etc.).
Then you throw in the crazy rise in the markets (stocks, crypto, real estate) that many people have benefited from.
Coupled with the popularity of FIRE mentality, rise of remote work, etc, it doesn't surprise me there are big changes coming.
You're also assuming they did nothing with their earnings over those 8 years - when in reality most are invested in the markets which have killed it over the last decade.
I think people in tech are making a shitload more money then most realize.