Would it be fair for engineers in Apple to get 400k, while the same engineer in, say, Microsoft would only get half as much? While engineers are important, they are not the key to huge Apple's success.

Engineers working for Apple are not much smarter than those at Microsoft. But Windows Phone is dead, while IOS is alive.

Traders in Bear Sterns were much worse than traders in JPMorgan, but the former collapsed, while the latter stayed.

Sun engineers are probably much more bright than those in Oracle, but it's Oracle who bought the Sun, not the other way round.

As much as I hate to admit that, the management makes a lot of difference and a good manager is worth his weight in gold literally.

> Would it be fair for engineers in Apple to get 400k, while the same engineer in, say, Microsoft would only get half as much? While engineers are important, they are not the key to huge Apple's success.

They are an essential component of Apple's success. All of their workers are. Sure, some are worth more than others, but my point is that $400k in profit per employee is a tax against their work, and that it should be more equitable for the workers that make the things happen that the oh so valuable managers request.

We need to bring productive work back to the forefront. It is just as valuable as management/adminstrative work, probably more so. I think that the best way to bring market forces back to normalcy in regards to productive activity is by unionization or aggressive tax policy.

So... When Apple contracts a cleaner for their office, should they pay them more than, say, IBM? Surely clean office plays some role in company success?

What's about electricity? Should Apple be charged more per kWh using the same logic?

Good point. Note, however, that what you're describing doesn't sound like "management", or at least not like "managers", but VP-level strategists.

The thing is, the union won't end up negotiating a baseline rate of $400k for everybody. It'll be a lot closer to what all those salary surveys come back with as their "market average" rate. So, $70k.

You, on the other hand, absolutely can negotiate directly with Apple to receive a $400k total comp package. They hire thousands of engineers a year in that range.

The profit a company makes does not equate to the value of each individual employee or what their salary should be. I'm not worth $400K / year, even if I was able to get through their hiring process.