I agree and disagree. I am also a software developer atleast in title(mostly do validation stuff). The issue in the factory I work is almost everything has “software”. Almost everything there is based in software, the operators are really only there mostly to put the part in the right place and sometimes plug it in. I could hire almost anyone do those jobs so the pay will always suck. Yes I respect them but mostly the job just requires a pair of working hands. Pure software companies may be different but I still think the only field to grow and have decent pay will be helping to automate stuff.