[w00t]

It's not that much less than what the average is, if you include the benefits package.

10k difference x 30 yrs = 300k( and that's being nice and assuming they stay only 10k behind the industry average throughout the career )

You do realize that these benefits( healthcare, retirement funds ) are given by all full-time employers in the States, right? I think it's actually required by law now, but even if it wasn't I wouldn't have taken a job w/o it.