What are the top salary benchmarks for startup companies?

If you are looking for a job at a startup company, you might wonder how much you can expect to earn. Startup salaries can vary widely depending on the stage, industry, location, and role of the company. In this article, you will learn about some of the top salary benchmarks for startup companies and how to negotiate your compensation package.

1 What are startup salary benchmarks?

Startup salary benchmarks are the average or median salaries that startup employees receive based on various factors such as their experience, skills, function, and location. These benchmarks can help you compare different offers and assess your market value. However, they are not fixed or universal, and they may change over time as the startup ecosystem evolves.

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Yamini Aadya Goyal

CHRO | Strategy | 15 years in GCC | Banking | Consumer goods | IT | Luxury | ISB Hyderabad | ESSEC France | Indian Bank | Ex-TATA | Ex-Mahindra | Ex-Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy | USA, France, Italy, APAC
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A startup is a matter of high risk and high return. As such, the negotiation of the package comes down to the perceived risk for you and the risk the company is willing to take banking on the return the company is expecting to get for on your services. Needless to say, there will be internal and external benchmarking, usually a compa ratio of 75 to 125% depending on the skillset. So check with people and google your benchmarks before you go into the negotiation.

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Camila Fares

Mentora de Carreira | Consultora de RH | Especialista em Desenvolvimento Humano Organizacional | Liderança | Estrategista em Posicionamento no Linkedin
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Benchmarks salariais de startups são referências usadas para definir faixas salariais competitivas, considerando fatores como indústria, localização e estágio da empresa. São essenciais para atrair e reter talentos, garantindo compensações justas e competitivas. Fontes comuns incluem pesquisas de mercado, dados de aceleradoras, e consultorias especializadas. Esses benchmarks ajudam a manter a equidade, planejar custos de pessoal e garantir a satisfação dos empregados, sendo vitais para o crescimento sustentável da startup.

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2 How to find startup salary benchmarks?

There are several sources you can use to find startup salary benchmarks, such as online platforms, surveys, reports, and networks. AngelList is a popular platform that connects startups, investors, and job seekers. You can browse thousands of startup jobs and view the salary range and equity offered by each company. Option Impact's annual Startup Compensation Survey provides compensation data for private companies. Hired publishes a Startup Salary Report with average salaries for various roles and locations across the US and UK. Additionally, leveraging your personal and professional networks to get insights into startup salaries can be beneficial. Ask your friends, mentors, peers, or recruiters who work or have worked at startups about their compensation and experience.

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3 How to negotiate your startup salary?

Negotiating your startup salary requires research and flexibility. Before entering the negotiation, make sure you have done your homework on the company, the role, the market, and your value. Additionally, you should prepare a list of your achievements, skills, and goals that demonstrate your fit and potential. It is important to remember that startups may have limited cash flow and resources, so they may not be able to offer a high salary. However, they may compensate with other benefits, such as equity, bonuses, perks, or growth opportunities. During the negotiation process, it is essential to communicate your expectations and motivations clearly and respectfully while listening to the employer's perspective. Ultimately, you should strive for a win-win outcome that reflects your value and aligns with the company's vision.

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4 What are the pros and cons of working at a startup?

Working at a startup can be an exciting and rewarding career choice, but it also comes with some challenges and risks. On the one hand, you can enjoy more autonomy, creativity, and impact, as well as the opportunity to learn new skills and grow your network. You can also be part of a passionate and innovative team and share in the success of the company. On the other hand, you may face greater uncertainty, instability, and stress. You may have less security, structure, and support, as well as longer hours and more responsibilities. Additionally, you may experience more competition and pressure.

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Abhinav Mathur, PhD

Passionate about Startups, Climate Change, Sustainability, and Education. Impacting global education and sustainability through the world largest and most loved Teacher Capacity Building platform Chalklit
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Startups are great places to accelerate your learning but you should consider joining a startup if you are confident that you would be able to make a meaningful contribution to the specific work that you are being hired for. If not you risk getting fired soon since startups will always be focused on ensuring that each of their team members contribute effectively - at least in their core area of work. You will get to learn and take more responsibility by design given that a startup will always be a bit constrained on resources and for anyone who is willing to take more the learning will be immense. You will have less security, the structure will not be very clear and expectations will always be extremely high so be prepared....

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5 How to choose the right startup for you?

When choosing the right startup for you, it is important to consider the stage, industry, location, and role of the startup. The stage could range from pre-seed to IPO and can affect salary, equity, culture, and risk. The industry can range from e-commerce to biotech and affect growth, demand, and regulation. The location could be anywhere from San Francisco to Singapore and can affect cost of living, lifestyle, and opportunities. Finally, the role can range from engineering to sales and can affect skills, responsibilities, and compensation.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the top salary benchmarks for startup companies?

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1 What are startup salary benchmarks?

2 How to find startup salary benchmarks?

3 How to negotiate your startup salary?

4 What are the pros and cons of working at a startup?

5 How to choose the right startup for you?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Career Management

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What are the top salary benchmarks for startup companies?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 What are startup salary benchmarks?

2 How to find startup salary benchmarks?

3 How to negotiate your startup salary?

4 What are the pros and cons of working at a startup?

5 How to choose the right startup for you?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Career Management

Rate this article

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