I recently had a conversation with an Amazon recruiter and she told me “no one at Amazon has a base larger than $160,000.” Total OTE was much greater, I just thought this to be an odd statement. Is it accurate?
Yes for all of US except NYC and Bay Area where it is 185k, rest is made up of equity. There is no cash bonus
Yes, total includes joining bonus (for first two years), and stocks.
How do the RSUs work?
What the recruiter told you is probably accurate. Max base is $160k (except NY and Bay area). For the first two years you get a bonus spread out with your monthly pay that gets you up to whatever your actual "total compensation target" (TCT) is. The RSUs you were offered vest 5% end of your first year, 15% end of your second year, then 20% every 6 months. You can keep them invested or sell them when they vest and pay taxes. They factor in an expected stock growth of 15% annually to estimate your total compensation for each of the first 4 years. What you're actually being offered is your salary + year 1 bonus + 5% of the RSUs you were offered at their current value. That's what they think you're worth in year 1 and what you should compare to any other all salary type of offer. Good luck!
15% Annual growth of amazon stocks is true? Can one lend his stocks to other people to short it?
15% rofl
Same thing told to me. My offer came out today for Amazon Seattle.
What is your offer details?
How about SDE3 and higher ranks? It is still based on RSUs? What if stock market keep bleeding?
Yep that's how they enslave you.
I'll happily be a slave for enough RSUs
Is this still true? Just $160k?
~Yes