This feels like the job prospect equivalent of saying "there's a 50/50 chance the sun rises tomorrow, either it does or it doesn't". If by "big tech" you mean

This feels like the job prospect equivalent of saying "there's a 50/50 chance the sun rises tomorrow, either it does or it doesn't". If by "big tech" you mean FAANG cos (and assuming "startup" means bay area YC tier), then a more accurate analysis is something like: Stability: Lower likelihood of being laid off than the median startup in any given economic conditions. Way lower likelihood (I'd estimate <1/20th the risk) than early stage (series A/B) Base pay: Higher than early stage startups, around the same for later stage (series C/D) Stock: Much lower variance than startups, slightly higher EV Fulfilling work: YMMV hugely depending on what you find more fulfilling. Making O(100M) users' lives 0.1% better? Big tech. Absolutely making the day of O(10) people? Startups