I totally agree that some of the published pay numbers are a little optimistic and include stock and discretionary bonus that are dependent on market performanc

I totally agree that some of the published pay numbers are a little optimistic and include stock and discretionary bonus that are dependent on market performance. However, the companies in that top sphere are still a strata above most of the alternatives. Plenty of people want to earn that extra renumeration even if it means doing grunt work or giving up on their work-life balance.