Is what started our sub thread here, I didn't believe we've been talking financials. If we have been, then in base salary I guess I still disagree, but yeah at least with RSUs it's hard to beat. That said I've interviewed for startups where the base salary for an IC position was like 230k+, they're rarer, founded by exceptional past founders who raised ridiculous sized rounds, and all just as rare as a job at a FAANG so I don't know, is the real problem that all 85th percentile and below of all jobs pay like shit or treat people poorly?
Our sub-thread is in the context of the overall posting, which is about what a bad deal it is to work at startups. The entire point is about the risk not being worth the financial reward. Our sub-thread is discussing one aspect of that.
No, but you will be paid more over time and switching jobs won’t cost you deferred payment in terms of vesting.
If you can land a startup job with the same salary and benefits as a bigco, then by all means do so. This is more about the poor value of deferred compensation.