To be fair to the OP, the median (so lower than average) salary for a single person with a bachelor's degree (in USA) is ~$80,000, give or take a few bucks.
The average is likely higher, and then higher again for higher COL areas.
So it's not unreasonable for OP to expect to start at this level, and work their way up to $150k over the next 5-7 years.
> So it's not unreasonable for OP to expect to start at this level, and work their way up to $150k over the next 5-7 years.
So you're actually saying that OP xpecting $150,000 now, given that is what they're expecting (and elsewhere they scoff at $200k), is out of touch.
But you feel compelled to say some people, with years of experience, make more? Yeah. That's sensical - but it doesn't apply now unless you think giving advice 5-7 years in advance is helpful when someone is looking for a job now.
The average is likely higher, and then higher again for higher COL areas.
So it's not unreasonable for OP to expect to start at this level, and work their way up to $150k over the next 5-7 years.