Quintessential Careers:
Comparing Two or More Executive-Level Job Offers
When comparing job offers at the senior and executive levels, job-seekers really
need to compare all aspects -- including salary, benefits and perks, and cost of
living -- of each job offer.
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Congratulations! Let's say that after much preparation and hard work that you have received three job offers.
Now you have to decide which is the best offer. Is the best offer always the one paying the highest salary? Well,
when you also look at each company's benefits package, you might find a very different story, as illustrated in the
table below. Why are benefits important? At the executive and top management level, benefits can be equal
(or even higher) than your base salary -- in effect at least doubling your overall compensation.
This example is purely a financial analysis of the three job offers, and does not take into consideration many
other important factors that job-seekers should also evaluate before deciding on a job offer. These other factors
are discussed after the table.
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Worldwide Widget, Inc.
New York, NY
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West Coast Widgets, Inc.
Los Angeles, CA:
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The Widget Company
Chicago, IL:
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Base Salary:
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$210,000
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$195,000
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$185,000
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Sign-on Bonus:
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$40,000
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$35,000
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$45,000
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Cost of Living Adjustment:
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-$31,500
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-$20,000 |
+ $11,000
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Stock Options:
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$50,000
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$10,000
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$0
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Medical, Dental, Optical:
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$6,000
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$8,000
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$5,000
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Life, Disability Insurance:
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$3,000
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$5,000
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$4,000
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Company Car/Driver:
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$50,000
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$80,000
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$50,000
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401(K) or Pension Plan:
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$20,000
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$20,000
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$25,000
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Severance Package:
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$100,000
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$120,000
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$185,000
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Paid Vacation:
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$30,000
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$24,000
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$26,000
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Total Compensation Package:
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$477,500
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$477,000
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$536,000
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As discussed in our Salary
and Job Offer Negotiation Tutorial, there are many other factors that job-seekers may want to consider
when deciding whether to accept an offer, including:
- Reputation of the company
- Corporate culture
- The work itself (in terms of interest, challenge, etc.)
- Quality of community (life, schools, etc.)
- Relocation expenses
- Dependent care
- Professional memberships
- Health club/country club memberships
- Tuition reimbursement
- Profit sharing
- Employee Assistance Program
Have you seen all of our
Salary Negotiation Resources?
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