Six-Figure Tech Salaries Lose Ground as AI Boom Widens Wealth Gap in SF

San Francisco's technology sector is experiencing a growing divide between traditional tech workers and a new class of AI professionals commanding far higher compensation. Employees earning around $180,000 annually — once considered highly comfortable salaries — now report feeling financially squeezed in the city. The tension is intensifying as AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic prepare for public listings, further enriching their top talent. Many mid-level tech workers say they struggle to afford housing and living costs that the AI elite can easily absorb. Some are questioning whether remaining in San Francisco is financially viable at all.