I find this sort of average performance talk quite silly. In most larger organizations, it's mostly politics & connections that count.

If you look around, most of the senior execs are average performers who manage to play the game well. The world is full of people with good work performance hantataki in some mid level mgt job.

Look at your own boss or big boss, how many of them are actually there because they are the best performers in your department? In short it is very possible for average performers to move up & make high level salaries, but you have to know how to play the game.