> It’s partially that the value of the dollar has been diluted a lot over the decades, and people are in denial about it. Earning 100k is no longer „a good salary“.

A "good salary" (or at least the median) used to be $5000:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Median_personal_income_af...

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_income_in_the_United_...

As the 'dollar has lost value' people have demanded more dollars in their salary. (Whether the two have kept up with each other is a matter of debate/concern.)