If you have the time and resources, what would be the most effective way to increase your salary as a full-time programmer, outside of just doing your job? 

By "salary" here, I mean salary (adjusted for location cost-of-living) coming from a single programming job. 


Question: Khojand to Dushanbe - cost vs danger?
Answer: According to all the Russian language forums I know, all people say You should not ever try to move alone (because the risk of kidnapping)! Try to form a group with other tourists, and move with them.

Other problem is the highway between Khojand (Khujand) and Dushanbe is currently under reconstruction, and there can be some traffic on it. So, maybe you will have to get the bus to the Istarawshan, and after that get a car for Dushanbe.

Try to find the bus station (Avtobusnyi vokzal - in Russian), there will be some info about intercity buses.