Discuss salary expectations

# How to Answer Compensation Expectation Questions (Base‑Only) Goal: Provide a confident base salary range backed by market data, clarify your rationale, and signal thoughtful flexibility on non‑base levers. ## 1) Confirm role scope before naming numbers - Clarify level and location, since these drive market rate. - Script: "Before I share numbers, could you confirm the level and location for this role, and the budgeted base range? I want to stay aligned with your band." If they share their band, anchor within or slightly above its midpoint (for strong fit), then justify. ## 2) Determine your market range (quick method) - Sources: Levels.fyi, H1B Salary Database, Glassdoor, Payscale, peer conversations, recruiter ranges. - Collect 5–10 data points for your level and location. Remove clear outliers. - Compute a midpoint (median of the cleaned set). For base‑only packages, add a 5–15% premium because there’s no annual bonus or equity. - Adjusted midpoint ≈ market median × (1.05 to 1.15) - Build a range around that midpoint: - Typical range width: ±10% of midpoint (avoid ranges wider than ~20%). Note: As of 2024, typical U.S. base bands (very rough, level‑dependent): - Major hubs (SF/NY/Seattle): ~180k–260k for mid‑to‑senior MLE roles. - Secondary hubs (Austin/Boston/Atlanta): ~160k–220k. - Other markets: ~140k–200k. Adjust to your level and evidence. ## 3) Define your three numbers - Minimum (walk‑away): The lowest base you’d accept, given base‑only. - Target: What you believe is fair market for your impact. - Anchor: The top of your range (ambitious but defensible, backed by data). Example (Bay Area, mid‑senior MLE): - Market median comps: ~$200k base. - Base‑only premium (10%): $220k midpoint. - Range: $210k–$235k. Minimum: $205k. Anchor: $235k. ## 4) Ready‑to‑use scripts A) Direct answer with rationale - "Based on the role scope, my experience deploying production ML systems, and current market data (Levels.fyi, H1B), for a base‑only package I’m targeting $210k–$235k. That reflects a modest premium for base‑only structures. I’m confident I can contribute at that level and I’m open to discussing details to make the fit right." B) If you prefer they share the band first - "I’m aligned to market for this level and location. Could you share the budgeted base range? If it’s helpful, my recent research for base‑only packages suggests a range around low‑200s to mid‑200s for this scope, and I’m comfortable within that depending on level and impact." C) Openness to trade‑offs (even if plan is base‑only) - "Base is my priority in a base‑only plan, so I’d target $210k–$235k. If there’s flexibility to add a sign‑on or a small performance bonus, I could be more flexible on base. For example, a 10% bonus or a meaningful sign‑on could justify considering the lower end of that range." ## 5) Trade‑off calculus you can cite - Bonus: 1% target bonus ≈ 1% of base value annually. A 10% bonus on a $220k base ≈ $22k/year. - Sign‑on: Amortize over 2–3 years when comparing to base. A $20k sign‑on over 3 years ≈ ~$6.7k/year. - 401(k) match: A 4% match ≈ 4% of base value annually. - Extra PTO: 5 additional days ≈ ~2% of annual workdays (assumes ~250 workdays), rough value ~2% of base if fully utilized. Use these to explain why base should be higher if no bonus/equity exists, and how you’d flex if such levers are added. ## 6) Pitfalls to avoid - Don’t share current salary. Focus on market and impact. - Don’t give a too‑wide range (>20%) or an overly narrow one (<5%). - Don’t ignore location/level specifics. Confirm them first. - Get any non‑standard elements (sign‑on, review cycle) in writing. ## 7) Compact template you can reuse - "Given a [level, location] MLE role and a base‑only structure, my research (Levels.fyi, H1B, recruiter ranges) supports a base range of [$X–$Y]. I derived this by starting from the local market median and adding a modest premium for base‑only. Base is my priority, though I’m open to discussing a sign‑on or modest bonus if that helps us align on total value." Use this structure to answer crisply, show you’ve done your homework, and keep the door open for a collaborative close.