I have my masters and have been working as an aerospace / fpga / electrical engineer straight out of college at an aerospace national lab for the past 1-2 years. I love my job, my boss thinks very highly of me and has been fighting to keep me around despite funding being low, projects getting cancelled, and there being barely any work.
I got an offer for a mid avionics position at a startup in LA, except I also have digital design experience which in the startup director’s words is ‘rare for an engineer to have both’. The recruiter asked me about salary in the first screen and I shot myself in the foot and said ‘well right out of college I was offered whatever the bottom of your mid level band is already offering (125k) and that was over a year ago and in a research lab which pays historically below what industry pays so that’s my absolute baseline’. I meant that as ‘I want more than that’ but I guess they interpreted it as ‘she will accept this’.
Well, they’re offering 125k. + equity / medical / startup bonus (mostly for moving). Should I bother trying to go ‘is there flexibility’ at this point? Does this seem like a fair salary?
Salary help for engineering job offer
byu/Business-You-5665 inpersonalfinance
Posted by Business-You-5665
7 Comments
They’re offering you what you’re currently making to move to LA? And you’re considering it?
Just for reference
https://illinisuccess.illinois.edu/23-24-annual-report
Aero is in the 80s computer science is 130. Probably add 20-30% for LA. Not sure what you masters would add to this. They are unnessary in my industry so I just add 1 year of exp.
There is almost always flexibility probably at least 5%. I would not be surprised up to 15%.
Startups may have tighter budgets so negotiating equity may be easier. 0% knowledge on this but educated guess.
Know yourself. If this is you only opportunity either take it or shoot low. If you are in demand shoot high unless you really like the company’s product. There is always a risk of upsetting them or they could be a more than fair company that just gives people what is in their budget and there is 0 wiggle room.
I’m in engineering in CA as well. I’m in a different industry and different city, so I’m not the most knowledgeable, but I’d say $125k for 2 years of experience and a master’s degree is maybe a little low but still reasonable.
I’d encourage you to counter. Always counter because usually the worst they can say is no.
Also look at the whole package. Do you have a 401K match? How is PTO? Without knowing all the details, I would counter to $135k and expect $130k back. I’d also ask for more PTO and them to consider you with two years of experience for their PTO increase schedule. If they don’t have a 401k I might ask for more than $135k.
A “fair” salary is entirely subjective and up to personal judgement. That being said, here is what I’d consider:
* Your current salary (I personally probably wouldn’t leave a job I loved for less than a ~15% bump in pay)
* Benefits – see if you can assign a dollar amount to the benefits you currently have and that the new job is offering. It might not be 100% accurate, but you can get an idea to at least approximate how much certain benefits are worth
* Cost of living where you are vs in LA – not sure exactly where you are but I would assume that LA is going to be a pretty big COL bump (10-20% at least) over where you are now – look into housing in LA and see how it compares to your current location
* Other miscellaneous factors – are you moving away from friends and family? What about a significant other? Especially if you’re moving a longer distance, this may factor in more
Ultimately, you have to weigh all the factors to come to your own decision. It’s always worth asking if they have flexibility in the job offer, but be aware that if you try to negotiate too much, they can always withdraw the job offer. Agreed with other commenters, there likely will be some flexibility (probably 5-10%, but maybe more) in the job offer. From my personal experience in switching jobs at around the same point in my career (different industry but around the same experience level), I got offered a salary at $105k and was able to talk them up to $110k. Equity is likely to be more flexible than actual cash compensation, as well.
I would move for same salary, and that too to California. You probably will be taking 10-15% haircut if you apply col adjustment
Engineer who did startup/vc, the biggest thing is to do due dillegence on what they’re trying to do. Do -you- believe in it? If you’re literally just looking for a job, I’d pass. You really have to be really interested in what the company is trying otherwise you’ll either burn out in a couple months or they’ll fire you.
They expect a counter offer so give them one.