No, that is too simplistic. When you get a job offer with an equity component, you should be able to estimate its value. Figure out what you think the company

No, that is too simplistic. When you get a job offer with an equity component, you should be able to estimate its value. Figure out what you think the company is worth, figure out what % of the company you own, and multiply those two numbers together. I have had friends get job offers where the equity component was worth less than $1000, and I have had friends get job offers where the equity component exceeded the salary component. It really just depends on the startup. So don't just dismiss the equity component as worthless without digging into it a bit more.