Earlier quoted context omitted.
>> "... and also make staggeringly high offer" How high are we talking about? Let's say around ~5 yrs exp dev who would otherwise be considered intermediate level elsewhere spends the equivalent of 3-6 months of full time effort in preparation: what comp can such a candidate expect to negotiate in the big4/5?
For that level of experience, and a great interview performance, big-5 easily cross $225k/yr in total comp. Often much more.
You might get somewhere around $100k though which is still a very nice salary in most places. Up to $150k in major hubs.