[Skunkworks] Career path for a developer; requests for opinions

Dear skunks and skunkette developers, I would like to know, from your personal experiences, the path taken by a developer in their career progression, and if possible, the changes over time in the number of zeros in your remuneration, roughly in the following format: 1. What languages, tools and technologies were you using when u started out 2. What languages, tools and technologies are you using now 3. How many jobs have you had over then, and what generally were you doing 4. How has your salo/income changed over the same period I find myself in a situation where I need to advice impressionable minds on the same. Much thanks!