[dpark]

> All I said that the first level manager, whose reports do not have reports of their own is unlikely to know anyone salary but his own.

I'm saying that you're wrong. I know what my direct reports make. So does every other manager at my company and every manager I know who works at any other company.

> Every where I worked, you (as an individual contributor)go to the higher up, who knows your salary with the recommendation from your manager, saying that you're doing excellent job or whatever.

That sounds really dysfunctional and bureaucratic. Now you're asking the manager to stick his neck out and ask for a raise for one of his reports when he doesn't even know what his reports make.