Use ranges with a date and source
FDE compensation varies dramatically across frontier AI labs, enterprise software, consulting, government work, geography, level, and whether the title masks a different function.
Indeed currently publishes a US salary view based on job-posting data. Official employer postings are a better source for a specific application because they provide location and level context.
Compare the full package
Base salary is only one component. Compare target bonus, equity type and vesting, commission or OTE, travel burden, on-call expectations, benefits, and the probability that private equity becomes liquid.
- Normalize all offers to the same geography and level
- Separate base, target cash, and speculative equity
- Ask whether travel time is included in normal working hours
- Check whether revenue targets affect performance reviews
Do not choose the path from a headline number
A high band does not mean every candidate or employer pays near the top. Optimize for role substance, manager quality, production ownership, learning rate, and credible compensation—not a viral maximum.
Community discussions are used to discover questions. Company responsibilities and compensation prioritize official or first-party sources.