At more than one of the private enterprises I worked at we had a few folks that made well past 100K a year as well.  That was a product of a job few wanted to bid into, a work force that was under staffed and a 24X7X365 operation.  I came close to that figure in 1979 due to a combo of those factors plus an added managerial bungle of bidding a contract way under the true cost.  Finally, anyone can put their nose to the grindstone and go after those jobs.  If they have what it takes.  Good luck with that.