If you want to compare worst or average of the US, why not compare it to the worst or average of Europe - say, Romania or Spain or Moldova or Greece? Why compare it to one of the best places in Europe?
Or, to use your words - the Germans will always be better off in Europe. But everybody else, not so much.
The EU is probably not as homogenous as the US, still, in Bucharest, yearly salary is 20kEUR (92kRON) for your average Sw Eng (not to mention cost of living would be low).
Or, to use your words - the Germans will always be better off in Europe. But everybody else, not so much.