Dev Salary Negotiation Calculator
Combine base, bonus, annual equity, and a sign-on into one total-compensation number, and see the raise it represents over your current pay before you answer an offer.
Negotiate from a number, not a feeling
The single most common negotiating mistake is anchoring on base salary and ignoring the rest of the package. A higher base with no equity can trail a lower base with a large grant, or the reverse — and you cannot tell which without adding them up. Reducing an offer to one honest annual figure lets you compare it to what you earn now and to a target you set for yourself.
Pair this with the Tech Offer Comparison when you are weighing more than one offer, and the Equity Vesting Calculator to see how much of that grant you actually keep if you leave early.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as total compensation for a developer?
Total compensation is more than base salary. It rolls in your annual target bonus and the annualised value of an equity grant — RSUs or options that usually vest over four years — so a $150k base with a $200k grant vesting over four years is really about $215k a year once you add a $15k bonus. A one-time sign-on bonus lifts only the first year, so this tool reports first-year and steady-state totals separately.
How is the equity annualised?
The calculator divides the total grant value by the vesting period in years, giving a straight-line annual figure. That matches how most four-year grants with a one-year cliff pay out on average. It is a simplification: many companies refresh grants, front- or back-load vesting, and the share price moves, so treat the equity line as an illustration rather than a guaranteed number.
How do I use this to negotiate a counteroffer?
Enter the offer as it stands and your current total comp to see the raise it represents. Then model a counter: bump the base, the grant, or the sign-on and watch how each moves the annual and first-year totals. Because base is guaranteed and equity is not, a smaller base increase can be worth more certainty than a larger grant. Bring the concrete number to the conversation rather than a vague 'more'.
Is this financial advice?
No. This is an educational estimate built from the numbers you enter and standard arithmetic. Equity values depend on a future share price no one can know, and taxes vary widely by country and grant type. Confirm anything that affects real money with your offer letter, the employer, and a qualified financial or tax professional before you decide.
Estimates only, based on the figures you enter and straight-line equity. Not financial, tax, or career advice — confirm anything material with a qualified professional.