Yes. In Germany, if you are a good earner, you pay 42% taxes, plus obligatory healthcare about 900EUR/month, pension fund and unemployment insurance (also all obligatory). So if you earn 100k (which is already a high salary in Germany), you usually end up with less than half net. I know this sounds crazy to US citizens, but this system comes with several advantages which I wouldn't want to miss.

Yep, me, there's nothing that pays more to be honest. If you're hiring and it pays significantly more, I'm interested.

Yes. And that's already mid-career salary.

Only if they have a good salary