L.A.M.E laments...
Hmm........doesn't sound good. I left LAME work in 1978 & have no regrets about it. Did a few things in between including retail. (still doing it).
At least you get to make your own decisions about working hours etc & you are home AT NIGHT & weekends. The social, family & health costs you pay are never compensated for by any allowance you might be lucky to receive.
$40,000 PA ? ........for some positions. Seem to remember reading somewhere in here of salaries a lot higher than that. As was said previously, once the pool of experience retires, resigns for greener pastures etc, supply & demand will dictate future salaries in this game.