If you can't find a job for more money somewhere else, then by definition you are getting paid at the market rate (or higher). Usually, people are hired at market rate but over time their salary usually doesn't keep up with the market. At that point, you usually need to switch jobs to get paid market rate again.
Wages are tied loosely to value generated. If you're very skilled at making widgets, you can make the company a lot of money. If widgets go out of style, your value to the company decreases. YOU as a person aren't worth any less, but you aren't worth as much to your current employer.
In the tech industry, you need to be responsible for increasing your ability to generate value and negotiating for to capture your share of the value you create.
Because one couldn't find a job which actually pays the amount one desires? What stops a person from looking for another job while continuing to work their current job? It's not fun, but it certainly is possible.
