A chemical engineer with a BS in Alberta can make $120k CAD base-pay, easily.
>and pay higher taxes than in the US.
A San Franciscan making $120k USD pays $46,176 USD in taxes (state+fed)
An Albertan making $120k CAD pays just $32,974 CAD in taxes (prov+fed)
When software engineers want $120k, they move to SF/Seattle and work for <soul-crushing corporate tech-company>. If you want $120k, move to Alberta and work for a gas company.
The vast majority of software engineers (let-alone 'entry level' SEs) in the US aren't making six figures. The ones who move to tech-topia and work for tech-giant and end up getting paid 20% less than their peers who did the same ARE getting ripped off.