I know the initial numbers are lesser compared to the US counterparts but what about raises and RSU refreshers? For example, keeping all other things same, would an engineer get a lower % raise in London vs MPK? Also, I know the E5 to E6 promo usually involves a much bigger RSU component than base salary increase, so what level is the best to move to the US for maximising gain? E4 vs E5? Current TC: £85k
That's nice. If stock refresher was like 60% of what US offers(which is what base salary is in London compared to US ) then it would have been a very bad deal to move to US on such a low TC
A few points: - London and US RSUs are similar (90% sounds right). - RSUs becomes a larger and larger component of comp as levels go up. For E3 there’s a significant comp difference between US and UK, for more senior levels it’s not really noticeable. - FB comp is highly performance based. High performance vs average performance is a much bigger comp difference than location. Delaying a promo or a high rating by 6m will likely be a bigger impact in the medium term than a location change. Generally, you should move to the US quickly if you want to live in the US. But if you’re concerned about compensation, the best overall strategy is generally to optimise for your own performance - find a place you’re happy to live and a project you’re passionate about and focus on performing at your best, and comp will follow.
An E3 in the US makes more than most E5s in London. I don’t see how you can say the difference in senior levels is smaller, particularly if we take into account new hire grants. I’ve been at the company for a while. I’m E5 and make half of the average E5 compensation in the US (and never had a rating below EE).
Thanks for your input! What did you mean by “delaying a promo or high rating by 6m will likely be a ...”? I’m planning on only moving right after a promotion. So what’s the difference if I move to the US after getting promoted to E4 vs moving after getting promoted to E5? Thinking of longer term benefits, for example, if someone does a E5->E6 promo in London, do they get a smaller bump than they would if they were in the US?
The difference gets smaller because refreshers make up a larger proportion, and the difference in them is smaller. For any individual it’s highly dependent on performance and tenure of course. A lot of the difference is in new hire grant - but if you join in London anyway this is what it is, moving doesn’t change it, so it’s only the refreshers you can control. GE and RE are the ratings where comp really increases noticeably. And E5->6 is the step where RSUs really start to ramp up a lot (see comp discussion data points).
Thanks. Does it make a significant difference if you go through E5->6 in London vs if you do that in the US? (Or E4->5 for that matter)
For any specific particular career step, you earn more in the US (though a smaller difference with increasing seniority). But if you’re on a team and doing well, you are more likely to get to that step sooner by doubling down on what you’re good at than by changing track and having to re-ramp up again; and making the step sooner is worth more than the location difference.
The salary bands in London are much lower than USA. If you’re asking about raises though, the raise % is probably similar. It’s a formula that looks at your performance rating, and where you are in the salary band. Last time i checked, RSU refreshers are 90% of the USA amount. If you really want to move go the USA, then do it asap. It’s much easier to ramp up in a new team/environment when you’re more junior. Note that when you move to the USA, your RSU remain the same as in London. Only your salary increases. So if you’re trying to optimize for money, move asap as i said.
Are the yearly stock refreshers similar as well? (Like you said about the raise %) I’m an E3 right now, joined a month ago. Asap is still at least a year away, so was wondering if I should wait until I’m E5 or just move at E4? (As E5 don’t have the up or out policy so it’s more relaxed I guess?)
I updated my answer. If things didn’t change since last time I checked, rsu refresher is 90%. Expectations at 4 are way lower than 5, so i think the move to the usa is much more relaxed at E4. I’d move at E4 if i were you. But i hate the usa lifestyle, so I’m not moving there :)