I think this is somewhat deceiving. I'm pretty most Americans have more than $1,000 in savings, maybe in their checking accounts, their stocks, etc.
"The Fed asked respondents how they would pay for a $400 emergency. The answer: 47 percent of respondents said that either they would cover the expense by borrowing or selling something, or they would not be able to come up with the $400 at all."
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/05/my-secre...
The reason there is no savings is because there is never any extra in recent years. There have always been things I went without, like insurance or more recently a car. Or eating out hardly ever.
Maybe people ought to do the opposite. Work for the risky startup during middle age when you have a cushion built up, and you are opt not to give a shit.
First of all we're in the middle of a boom cycle and any competent engineer (which I assume you are) can get a six-figure salary WITH equity at even the earliest-stage funded startups.
Second, your chances of making it big on equity alone are pitifully small. The expected returns on startup equity is less than the salary cut you take when compared with the stable job at Big Co. The median return is zero.
If you were bootstrapping your own startup with only ramen profitability, I would have mad respect for you. But you say you aren't even working on your own startup right now. Wherever you are working you are likely very underpaid for what you are doing.
If you are in the lucky minority, be honest with yourself and put money aside while it lasts. I have friends for whom it didn't.