5% in year 1, 15% in year 2, 40% in year 3, 40% in year 4.
This is unfavorable compared to other top-paying tech companies, however Amazon may offer a sign-on bonus for years 1 and 2 to help even out the total annual comp.
Aaah, I see how it all works together then.
On the other hand, AMZN stock has done much better than Facebook, Google, Apple over the last five years, so at least they have that.
Yes, but you don't have to work at AMZN to buy their stock. And RSUs are just another name for 'cash compensation, that was immediately spent on buying company stock'.
I think I heard that Amazon bases future grants on the assumption that the stock price will increase 15%. But I can tell you that my salary+bonus+RSU when they made an offer was based on the stock price not changing.
The same goes for the sign on bonus, they ignore the bonus portion of comp unless there is two years of history and an expectation that it will continue.
Source: I have been at Amazon for 2.5 years and checked with a LOT of banks.
If your total compensation is something like a quarter of a million as an Amazon engineer does that mean you have to live much more frugally for your first year until you get your bonus and shares?