Whether or not anyone "deserves" the money is probably not really your problem (in an org chart sense), and I think you should be happy with whatever "excess" y

Whether or not anyone "deserves" the money is probably not really your problem (in an org chart sense), and I think you should be happy with whatever "excess" you or the candidates are receiving. Don't internalize the capitalism too much, I guess is what I'm saying. If you think someone will do what you need them to do in a role, and the company is willing to pay them N dollars for it, all is well.