People very much miss why they are getting paid so much. It is because they are in HCOL area with lot of competition. Thus employers are forced to pay a lot to get warm bodies there. For some reason they have wanted them there...

Now, if work can be done else where, magically the supply increases, go figure. So they don't need to pay so much. Instead they can pick someone else for less.

For me, I consider the high pay a payment for living somewhere I don't want to or cost lot to live. If I don't live there I get less.