Well, let me clarify this. When I started I was just graduated and I came in London without actually speaking english.
So, though I had some cool side projects, they couldn't offer me more.
Now, things are completely different. I improved my language and most of all I improved my skill.
In my role as a 'junior' I do the same job of my colleagues, the only difference is that they don't let me to lead a project, mainly because I am not yet able to properly speak with clients.
A year after I graduated I got my first role in London at £27000 for a dev role (one above junior). This was an enterprise java role and in the first year I worked in a team of 3 building a custom CMS (it was a telecoms publishing house) and then a BI platform. My pay moved up fairly quickly over the years but I don't think I know even a CTO here who earns more than £90000. The SF salaries do sound crazy high.
