navi-jen, those are interesting points; I’ve thought about those too.
In my opinion, these high compensation packages are likely necessary in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley Area to attract and retain high quality management. (I have both a background with the nonprofit sector and connections to the extended Bay Area, and the elevated cost of living is a serious problem for area dwellers and companies. Even those who commute are finding affordable housing is much farther away these days, and commuter transportation isn’t really adequate.)
...according to the Council for Community and Economic Research, the total cost of living in San Francisco is 62.6% higher than the U.S. average—and housing is nearly three times more expensive than in other U.S. cities.
Link to SmartAsset: What is the True Cost of Living in San Francisco? By Nick Wallace AUG 20, 2018