Some market watchers argue that the rise in median executive payouts is a natural consequence of the stiffer competition for scarce business talent, and paying huge executive salaries adds to stockholder value.

But as the difference between the average worker’s salary and executive grows wider each year, critics argue that whether they increase productivity or not, huge salaries are exacerbating inequality and must be reined in.

…Another analysis by MyLogIQ LLC, a company that tracks salary data from companies, found median compensation rose to $14.2 million in just one year.