- Keep base, bonus, equity and sign-on in separate columns, because adding a target bonus to base invents guaranteed pay.
- Confirm which location and level a posted range applies to before comparing it with an offer.
- Travel and the approved work location are part of the compensation, and a remote label answers neither.
- Write "not stated" where a term is missing, since silence about travel, equity or sponsorship promises nothing.
- Check both ranges against posted pay for the same level and metro on the salary page.
The five parts of an offer
- base salary and the pay period
- bonus or commission, with the target and the conditions for payment
- equity type, units, vesting schedule, and any stated exercise or valuation terms
- sign-on payment, relocation support, and repayment conditions
- benefits that change your direct cost
Ask what is guaranteed, what is a target, and what depends on company or individual performance. For equity, ask what the grant represents, when it vests, what happens if you leave, and which valuation assumptions the company expects you to use. These are questions about the offer, not investment or tax advice.
Compare the work behind the number
| Question | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses the work? | ||
| What do you build? | ||
| Which stages do you own? | ||
| How much production and on-call responsibility? | ||
| How much customer travel, and who pays? | ||
| Which location rules apply? | ||
| What is the expected level and next review? | ||
| What is written, and what is still unclear? |
One offer centres on building and owning production systems inside customer environments. Another is weighted towards pre-sales evaluation, implementation, adoption or internal deployment. Ask for a normal project from discovery through launch, who owns the code after handoff, and who responds to incidents.
Get the missing terms in writing
- the level and the reporting line
- the first project and the expected deliverables
- base, bonus target, equity terms, and review timing
- work location, travel expectations, notice and reimbursement
- on-call, overtime or weekend expectations
- visa sponsorship or work authorisation support, where relevant
A multi-location posting can show one range while the offer applies to a single office. If the job changes materially between the interview and the written offer, ask which document controls.