> Associate; a generic corporate title in banking

To be highly paid, get a job at a company run by (former) software engineers who see software as the profit engine of their company. Not a bank that sees software as an IT cost center.

In general, you make the most money at a company where the founder or senior management have the same background as you and are biased to think your job role is the most important one in the company.

Facebook programmer, hospital doctor, Oracle lawyer, etc