How much to counter for this in-house offer: $285k base, $57k bonus, $23k 401k?
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Poast new message in this thread
Date: May 5th, 2025 8:27 PM Author: Tan Set
The posted salary range in the job listing was $270k-$360k base.
I was offered:
$285k base
$57k bonus (i.e. 20%)
$23k 401k (i.e. 8% match)
How much should I counter for? I'm thinking:
$315k base
$63k bonus (i.e. sticking with 20%)
$25k 401k (i.e. sticking with 8% match--I don't think this is negotiable)
$30k signing bonus
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48906774) |
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Date: May 6th, 2025 9:33 AM Author: Supple field
If they are really shitheads about base, come back with
* $300k base (but be willing to accept 295)
* Min bonus of $60k (20%) - Max bonus of $150k (discretionary- you can lobby this intensively once you're in the tent)
* See if you can get 401k up beyond 8%
* $50k signing bonus
I would also ask about base increases. Lockstep annually based on %? Discretionary?
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48907706) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 8:38 PM Author: Tan Set
"What Is the Employer Match 401(k) Limit?
The most an employer and employee can contribute together for 2025 is $70,000 if the employee is under 50 or $77,500 if the employee is 50 or older. Subtracting the maximum employee contribution limit for 2024 gives us $46,500 if the employee is under 50 or $54,000 if the employee is 50 or older. That's the most the employer can contribute to a 401(k) account and the employer can't contribute more than the employee's salary."
https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/100314/does-my-employers-matching-contribution-count-towards-maximum-i-can-contribute-my-401k-plan.asp
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48906814) |
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Date: May 6th, 2025 10:19 PM Author: underhanded library party of the first part
As of 2025, the IRS limits for 401(k) contributions are:
Employee Contribution Limit
$23,000 per year (if you're under 50)
$30,500 per year (if you're 50 or older, including the $7,500 catch-up contribution)
Total Annual Contribution Limit (Employee + Employer)
$69,000 per year (if you're under 50)
$76,500 per year (if you're 50 or older, including catch-up)
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48909798) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 8:53 PM Author: Tan Set
My resume is very prestigious law school-->very prestigious law firm-->interesting (but not particularly prestigious) in-house job. It's enough to get noticed and picked up out of the pile of hundreds of resumes.
I almost never submit a cover letter. I haven't found it worth the extra effort, though it might be.
The other key is sending out many, many applications, soon after each job is posted.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48906848) |
Date: May 5th, 2025 8:46 PM Author: Racy old irish cottage point
Seems like a good counter. Many in-house roles are very stingy on base pay raises and push it more towards bonus as you get more senior. At my company, someone with that salary would be getting a 40% bonus, so you may want to push for more there.
IDK if they can go to 8% on 401(k). 6% is usually the highpoint and it may be something set plan-wide. But it's worth an ask. If they can't give you that, ask for more RSUs but they are pretty shitty IMO unless they vest relatively quickly. (Mine vest in equal tranches over 4 years which is very lame.)
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48906829) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 8:50 PM Author: Tan Set
Thanks. Yes, my goal is to push the base up as much as possible. I'd much rather have an additional dollar in base than an additional dollar in bonus, especially to start out with as it will set that level for the duration of my tenure.
Do you think I should ask for more than $315k? That's "only" the middle of their posted range. I want to maximize the base, but I don't want to ask for so much that they don't enggage.
They already offered an 8% 401k match. I think it's standard for them for the level of this role.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48906842) |
Date: May 5th, 2025 9:21 PM Author: onyx theatre
No equity?
The bonus percentage can be hard to negotiate because HR loves to keep everyone at the same percentage based on seniority. Unless this is C level or a smaller company
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48906914) |
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Date: May 8th, 2025 10:54 AM
Author: .,.,...,..,.,.,:,,:,.,.,:::,...,:,...:..:.,:.::,.
Right but not everyone is in tech. My wife makes similar to the OP (even more on the bonus side) but 0 equity because the company isn't public.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48913266) |
Date: May 5th, 2025 9:22 PM Author: indigo rigor locale
In house exec here, have hired a number of attorneys.
The fact there’s no stock is weird, but maybe that’s how they are (or not a public company?).
You can ask for another $20k on salary and maybe you’d get $10. Asking for $30k more is a bit off putting. But do it if you want. Downside is that if they hire you, they may be thinking that you’re gonna be a squeaky wheel and you may start off on the wrong foot in your boss’s eyes.
Asking for a signing bonus is fine.
Asking for the higher bonus and 401(k) matches weird. The 401(k) match may be standardize the company and nobody thinks about that anyways. And the bonus is like a chump change in terms of what you’re asking them to add so I don’t know why you would bother.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48906921) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 10:16 PM Author: Tan Set
AGC. Job posting said 8-10 years experience minimum, which I'm above.
General big company stuff
No
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48907049) |
Date: May 6th, 2025 9:36 PM Author: Dark hissy fit hospital
We once had to hire between two pretty even candidates. Made candidate A an offer and she countered asking for 25% more than the original offer in base salary and an additional amount of PTO days (we were already offering like 25 plus holidays). Offer was pulled and made to candidate B who accepted the next day.
You’re probably fine to make a small counter, but don’t come off as a pain in the ass.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48909709)
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Date: May 6th, 2025 10:38 PM Author: Tan Set
Thank. Will do. Two interesting bits from my discussion with the recruiter about this.
(1) She said the GC already approved the offer, he'll need to approve any changes, and he's unlikely to do so. Not sure if her saying that is a negotiation tactic or what.
(2) She said they reconsider salaries annually, and this year, someone with strong positive reviews could have received a 4% raise. To me, that said you better get your base as high as you can now, because it's not going up much from here. I already knew that was likely the case, but it was interesting to hear her say it.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48909825)
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Date: May 6th, 2025 10:46 PM Author: Tan Set
I asked for $30k more, to get to the midpoint of the posted range. It seemed fair and only about 12% over the initial offer. I tried to do it tactfully.
The best negotiating tactic is signaling that you're willing to walk away. You can't really do that too strongly here because they surely have many other qualified candidates who would be quite happy to take the offer you're saying you'll walk away from.
There is a certain type of person who would enjoy this. For me, it's a pain, and I'll be glad when it's over.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48909835) |
Date: May 7th, 2025 1:38 PM Author: Zippy metal senate
ITT: Wagecucks who grovel for the slightest bit of crumbs.
"OH NO! WHAT IF I ASK FOR TOO MUCH PAY!?"
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48911192) |
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Date: May 8th, 2025 11:27 AM Author: .,,.,.,,.,..,.,.,..
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48913386) |
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Date: May 7th, 2025 3:54 PM Author: Zippy metal senate
I have my own firm.
If I want to make more money, I got out and get more cases.
I don't cower in fear that someone might "take away" my job if I ask to be properly compensated for the work that I complete.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48911541) |
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Date: May 12th, 2025 11:14 AM Author: ...,....,,........
I'm a trial lawyer that makes insurance companies pay me a lot of money to avoid getting their shit pushed in.
I run my own business so I never have to "negotiate" how much I'm being paid for the service I provide for others.
Be a man and start your own firm.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48923764) |
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Date: May 7th, 2025 6:59 PM Author: Tan Set
CRs all around.
Even without them increasing the offer, it's a step up in comp from my current role. And putting comp aside, there are other aspects of the new job i expect I'll like more.
Jobs that are a step up from my current one are hard to come by.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48912013) |
Date: May 10th, 2025 2:16 PM Author: Nazca Redlines
UPDATE: The recruiter had told me that they would try to let me know about any adjustments by the end of the week. On Friday afternoon, she told me that they touched base with the GC and would be in touch early next week with an update.
I presume that means they will give me something more, at least a signing bonus. I'm not sure why the GC (of this giant company) needed to weigh in on a request to move a potentially incoming AGC's salary up 11%.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48919668) |
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Date: May 12th, 2025 6:18 AM
Author: ,.,.,.,........,....,,,..
HR has way too much power and requires exec approval for everything non standard. I had to involve my boss (GC) and head of HR to push through a 10k raise for a star employee making dog shit. It’s stuff like that that makes me want to burn it all down
Oh and meanwhile I control a large legal budget on outside counsel and can easily waste 50k without anyone even noticing
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48923214) |
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Date: May 12th, 2025 7:21 AM
Author: ,.,.,.,........,....,,,..
Being well liked is generally inversely correlated to pay weirdly enough. It’s all the “won’t rock the boat” types that are the lowest paid on the team, but people sure do like them, swell guys, team players
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48923264) |
Date: May 13th, 2025 7:51 PM
Author: .,.,...,..,.,.,:,,:,.,.,:::,....,:,..,:.:.,:.::,
Update?
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48928221) |
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Date: May 15th, 2025 12:36 AM
Author: .,.,...,..,.,.,:,,:,.,.,:::,...,:,...:..:.,:.::,.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720867&forum_id=2E#48932413) |
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