"I find it difficult to understand why these companies would go to such lengths to save at absolute most 15-20% on salary." They're probably saving a lot more

"I find it difficult to understand why these companies would go to such lengths to save at absolute most 15-20% on salary." They're probably saving a lot more than 15-20%. I understand this argument is often used to claim that it isn't about wages, it's about availability of someone, anyone to hire. But at what rate? Suppose you say that you can't hire a developer with a particular in demand skill set. You've posted at what you've determined to be "market rate" for the position, or maybe a bit higher You pick up the phone and call various highly regarded developers at google, apple, and Facebook and say "what would it take to get you to quit your job, this moment, and come work for my company?" My guess is that the difference between the "market rate" the company is offering and the rate they'd pay if they were prepared to do what it takes to get that engineer to leave google is a lot greater than 15-20%. I wouldn't be surprised if they'd have to double the offer.