Salary Negotiation#

Negotiate compensation effectively and professionally.

Preparation#

Market Research#

• Levels.fyi: Tech compensation by level and company
• Glassdoor: Company-specific ranges
• Blind: Anonymous peer data
• Otta: Startup salary benchmarks

Know Your Numbers#

• Target: Ideal offer (stretch)
• Acceptable: Minimum you'd sign
• Walk away: Below this, you decline

BATNA (Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement)#

Your strongest leverage is having another offer. If you don't:

• What's your current comp trajectory?
• How much runway do you have?
• What's the opportunity cost of waiting?

Negotiation Scripts#

When they ask "What are you targeting?"#

"Based on my research (levels.fyi, other offers) and experience in [area], I'm targeting a total compensation of [target]. I'm flexible based on the overall package — equity, benefits, and growth opportunities all factor in."

When they give the first offer#

"Thank you for sharing this. I'm excited about the role and team. Based on my research and experience, I was hoping for something closer to [number]. Is there flexibility in the offer?"

Total Compensation Breakdown#

Component	What to Evaluate
Base Salary	Guaranteed cash
Equity	Type (RSU/options), vesting schedule, dilution
Bonus	Target %, structure, historical payout
Benefits	Healthcare, 401k match, remote stipend
Perks	Learning budget, equipment, travel

Key Rules#

• Always negotiate — even if the offer is good
• Never give the first number
• Negotiate on value, not need
• Be professional and gracious
• Get everything in writing