[johnmorrison]

Silent duality here is that many engineers are being paid top-level US compensation without actually living there, sometimes 2-10x+ their local counterparts.

Their secret is negotiation. Many US-based large companies and well-funded startups that pay in those top ranges know very well that there are engineers in low cost-of-living countries who are just as productive for their company, so they will compete for those engineers.

The deciding factor in whether each of those individuals actually makes a regional salary or a top level salary (or anywhere in between) is purely based on whether they are willing to refuse lower offers and only accept the same pay the locals in top-paying areas like SF/NY do. Some employers will never budge, but many will, because you're still worth just as much as the locals they pay the same rate.

TL;DR If you've got the skill, only accept the top range of pay and that is what you will make.