How much money Java programmers make?

Well, let me try Ukraine. Let's think of Kiev - capital of Ukraine!

Position of Sr. Java Developer (at least 4+ years of experience, plus you really need to be good) in a company which is working with US clients will give you $1300-1700. This "fork" is pretty big, because it depends on many factors, like type of salary ("white" or "black"), skills, benefits, etc. From my own experience, from developer who is a just "from the street", and if nobody knows him - it will be pretty (okay - _very_) hard to get $1700. More likely it will be $1100-1500 as "white" salary with included 4 weeks paid vacation, paid sick leave and medical insurance. But even for these money he will neeed to be very good in skills and professional experience. It goes without saying that his English will need to be almost perfect. Just in comparement, just Developer (jr/mid level) can get money starting from $400-500/month, I guess.

Now, expenses. Apartments rental: 1 bedroom (in .UA it is called "2 rooms flat") in a good district and in good condition can be easily $800+. 2 bedroom ("3 rooms flat") can be $1100+. They will be furnitured. However, you can rent something in cheaper district, and without good and recent repairment inside - it can be $400+ for 1 bedroom ("2 rooms flat"), I think. I do not have the latest info, but I know that prices are growing. :-) What else. Phone - around $5-10/month, Internet (dial-up) - can be $50-60/month either ADSL for ~$15/month and ~$45/1Gb of bandwith. Medical insurance could be provided either from employer, either you can think that in general medical help is "free" in Ukraine; but truth to be told you will not be able to get any help without paying. Car rental and insurance -- that's almost impossible to calculate, as far as there are not such service there. Insurance is not very expensive, but you need to think of buying your own car. Parking (near your place of living) will start from $30-40/per month. Food. Food is expensive, despite what people could say. Sometimes it's even more expensive than in US. I think I can say that you can eat (not starve) for $400-500 per month for the familty. It would be enough good, but of course you can spend much more and less depending on you "food" needs. So, that's it. Let's say in general that to live (even not equal to US) but pretty nice life in Ukraine (in Kiev, big city, which is important), you'll have to spend at least $1100-1200 per month. This does not include gas for your car or money for public transportation, and we are assuming that you already have a car; extra expenses like gym, fun, restaraunts, vacation, savings, etc., etc. are not included as well.

Hope this helps :-)

It's good to know that good computer programmers in Kiev, Ukraine are being treated nicely. I know that appartments in Ukraine are called flats, because I used to live in Kiev many years ago.

You might want to read some other feedbacks to this topic, which I've also posted over here: http://www.javalobby.org/java/forums/t65911.html

I really disagree that this is called "being treated nicely". It's not. If salary would be around $2-2.5k - I would agree, but not $1.7k which IS rare for developer, kind of very-very upper limit. Real estate is pretty expensive, easily starts from $80-120k and up, for not-so-nice flats.

Btw, good to know that you are from Ukraine! Me either :-), even if I hate this country.