Mechanics are often required to buy their own tools. Higher end chefs are expected buy their own knives. Machinists are expected to buy many of their own instruments.

It’s not universal but definitely not uncommon.

If the cost of the tool is within the budget of the tradesman or professional, it's more common to buy it out of personal preference for a type or brand of tool.

If no part of your toolset is within your budget, then you're in the working class, since you cannot ever own your own means of production.

> Is it common to buy your own tools in other skilled trades (when you aren't a freelancer)?

I can't speak broadly, but when I worked construction, most guys would bring a mix of personal tools and company tools.

If you don't want to make yourself more productive to make yourself worth more and try to stay at what you're being paid for, that's your option.

I don't understand why you don't to become a more productive person then you may get a better job offer or start your own company where you and your customers will be the one to evaluate your worth instead of a single boss of yours.

In many software jobs it's not possible to bring your own tools unless approved. Even if they are free and open source.

Isn't it becoming cheaper to go with all products pack at that point?

I guess the StackOverflow salary data would be pretty extensive.

Average annual salaries _before taxes_ in Western Europe starts between 30k EUR (Junior dev without a formal degree) and 40k EUR (Junior dev with a MS/engineering degree). I guess most people who started at 40k EUR finish their career between 60k EUR (as senior dev) and 80k EUR (as manager).

Then remove 25% as social charges + ~1 month of net salary as income tax + other various types of taxes.

I don't think what you're saying changes what I said at all. $200 is still a large amount of money for people, even if other trades force their employees to buy their tools. I don't see how that changes anything.