Not so. Apple engineers and designers get paid more than other Apple jobs (average $130,000), and get paid more than Google. They get almost twice in pay what the marketing people get paid (average $75,000). You put your money where your strength is, and at Apple that is in design and engineering. Their products are unlike others, with others scrambling to mimic Apple. Most companies pay each other licensing fees for patents owned, and Apple has quite a few patents. The "premium" that customers pay is for a quality product with many bundled features absent from other lackluster products at the same price. (Excluding accessories from that statement, as all companies get much of their profit from accessories, not just Apple.)
Engineers make more than other occupations in lots of companies... so I'm not sure that's indicative of anything.
Apple didn't make the first PC, phone, smartwatch or anything else really... they mimic others. They excel in marketing and keeping brand loyalty... that's really the crux of their success. I'm not saying that's a bad thing... it works and it's a good formula for their success.