I think you are correct on this. Our previous LOG-ETL transferred from California. So his salary was more than those of other ETLs in our store due to the higher cost of living as you stated.
My area must be messed up then. I know for a fact an ETL i was working under was making $91k a year and we are not in a high living cost area by any means. He's been with the company 15 years and has no college education, so either someone must like him or he's part of a scandal