People who can do CEO type work are very rare and highly sought after, while people who can do low-level jobs are everywhere, especially now that we can hire labor all over the world. It's just supply/demand. Blame low wages on people willing to work for cheaper than you.
Exactly. If a company/board of directors are willing to pay that much to a certain individual, then maybe he is worth it? Although a thing I don't understand is - how did it get that way?
Your average joe works for 10$/hour, then some poor chap comes along and is willing to work for 2$/hour. Joe is fired. I get that. But why on the other end of that spectrum, salaries are so big. Why doesn't some poor chap come along to work as CEO for less?
Also how much could you possibly want? If they offer you a job for 2 mil $ a year, could you keep a straight face and say: "my services require better than that, make it 3.5 mil" ? And if they disagree - screw them, and those 2 mil, right?