My anecdotal experience regarding pay has been the opposite, at least here in Seattle. The employers who require people to come in a few days a week are all big corps who pay quite well.

I wonder if the relative pay depends on the cost of living. If you're in a small town with limited local opportunities then you can get a higher salary by searching for remote work. But if you're in a high cost of living city then the employers who require you to be there have to pay enough to make it worthwhile.