Let's say you're applying for a position where usual FAANG TC is 300k.
Then Amazon recruiter wants to "match" that, so 300 * 4=1200k over 4 years.
Base pay is maxed at 160 (until today's announcement), so
1200k-(160 * 4) = 560k to come up with with stocks and cash bonus.
Let's say Amazon 30 day moving average share price during negotiation is $1200 a share
So now recruiter must make math such that:
- TC stays relatively flat. On year 3 & 4 you get 40% of award, but only 5% year 1 and 15% year. (so a cash bonus to offset year 1 is ~35% of grant amount, and cash bonus offset year 2 is ~25% of grant amount)
- TC assuming 15% growth of stock
So, they'll offer you 220 units:
Year 1:
with only 5% * 220 * 1200=$13k from RSU, you need (300-160-13)=127k cash bonus , now your TC year 1 is 300k.
Year 2:
15% * 220 * 1200 * 1.15=46k from RSU
So cash bonus of 94k.
Year 3:
40% * 220 * 1200 * 1.15^2=140k RSU
that's 300k of TC
Year 4:
40% * 220 * 1200 * 1.15^3=160k RSU
That's even more, 320k TC \o/
So all the math here is done using fictional share price that grew 1.15^n for each year. But in concrete, your offer says 220 units. If Amazon grew much more than 15% a year, on year 3 you're still making 40% * 220 units, no matter what the share price is.
But the final offer is:
160k / year base, 220 units over 4 year with 5%/15%/40%/40% vesting, and 127k cash bonus year 1 + 94k cash bonus year 2.
Amazon is one of rare FAANG where the RSU offer is given in share count in offer itself, not in $.
Then Amazon recruiter wants to "match" that, so 300 * 4=1200k over 4 years.
Base pay is maxed at 160 (until today's announcement), so 1200k-(160 * 4) = 560k to come up with with stocks and cash bonus.
Let's say Amazon 30 day moving average share price during negotiation is $1200 a share
So now recruiter must make math such that:
- TC stays relatively flat. On year 3 & 4 you get 40% of award, but only 5% year 1 and 15% year. (so a cash bonus to offset year 1 is ~35% of grant amount, and cash bonus offset year 2 is ~25% of grant amount)
- TC assuming 15% growth of stock
So, they'll offer you 220 units:
Year 1:
with only 5% * 220 * 1200=$13k from RSU, you need (300-160-13)=127k cash bonus , now your TC year 1 is 300k.
Year 2:
15% * 220 * 1200 * 1.15=46k from RSU So cash bonus of 94k.
Year 3:
40% * 220 * 1200 * 1.15^2=140k RSU that's 300k of TC
Year 4:
40% * 220 * 1200 * 1.15^3=160k RSU That's even more, 320k TC \o/
So all the math here is done using fictional share price that grew 1.15^n for each year. But in concrete, your offer says 220 units. If Amazon grew much more than 15% a year, on year 3 you're still making 40% * 220 units, no matter what the share price is.
But the final offer is:
160k / year base, 220 units over 4 year with 5%/15%/40%/40% vesting, and 127k cash bonus year 1 + 94k cash bonus year 2.
Amazon is one of rare FAANG where the RSU offer is given in share count in offer itself, not in $.