This is extremely misleading. A typical package looks something like: year 1: $150k cash + $100k bonus + $10k stock year 2: $150k cash + $80k bonus + $30k

This is extremely misleading. A typical package looks something like: year 1: $150k cash + $100k bonus + $10k stock year 2: $150k cash + $80k bonus + $30k stock year 3+4: $150k cash + $110k stock The bonuses vest linear, daily, so there's no clawback if you leave during the first two years. Realistically, it means that you only get into stock comp if you've stayed for a few years and have decided that it's where you want to stay. Otherwise, you just get a nice big pile of cash each month.