> Something is gonna have to give.

Why? The work product of a senior engineer (on average) is worth some multiple of the TC or the company wouldn't be paying it.

Tom Cruise makes way more than the director or the studio execs too. Because he sells tickets/rentals that make the movie more profitable. Same thing.

Is important to reflect on compensation gaps among top 10 companies in the US over time and the positions that they valued most (whether fair to value them that way or not). That will tell the story of if there is anything to give.