Let's talk in-house salaries Forum

[Anonymous User]

Adding another data point here.

Sector: Renewable Energy, fully remote
Base Salary: $265k
Bonus: 30% guaranteed, usually exceeded by ~10%
Equity: Substantial option grants on an annual basis, 1 year cliff + 4 year vesting schedule
PTO: Unlimited (actually means unlimited, not like biglaw -- company doesn't even track it)
401k: 6% match vesting immediately
Hours: Roughly 9am to 5:30pm M-F, almost never weekend work
Medical: Fully paid PPO for self, spouse and dependents
Fringe benefits: $50k IVF allowance, 16 week fully paid parental leave, lots of other goodies

Moved in house with 5 years of experience from a top renewable energy firm.

[thisismytlsuername]

Adding another data point here.

Sector: Renewable Energy, fully remote
Base Salary: $265k
Bonus: 30% guaranteed, usually exceeded by ~10%
Equity: Substantial option grants on an annual basis, 1 year cliff + 4 year vesting schedule
PTO: Unlimited (actually means unlimited, not like biglaw -- company doesn't even track it)
401k: 6% match vesting immediately
Hours: Roughly 9am to 5:30pm M-F, almost never weekend work
Medical: Fully paid PPO for self, spouse and dependents
Fringe benefits: $50k IVF allowance, 16 week fully paid parental leave, lots of other goodies

Moved in house with 5 years of experience from a top renewable energy firm.

Pretty crazy package. Any more color around what "substantial" means? I assume you're private given the type of grant?

[Anonymous User]

Any recent posters in this thread nervous about moving inhouse given current war? Or no concern?

[thisismytlsuername]

Any recent posters in this thread nervous about moving inhouse given current war? Or no concern?

Everyone always talks about how risk-averse lawyers are, but goddamn, this is a new level. Implication in this question is that being at a firm has more job security than being in-house right now. Why do you think that?

[Anonymous User]

Adding another data point here.

Sector: Renewable Energy, fully remote
Base Salary: $265k
Bonus: 30% guaranteed, usually exceeded by ~10%
Equity: Substantial option grants on an annual basis, 1 year cliff + 4 year vesting schedule
PTO: Unlimited (actually means unlimited, not like biglaw -- company doesn't even track it)
401k: 6% match vesting immediately
Hours: Roughly 9am to 5:30pm M-F, almost never weekend work
Medical: Fully paid PPO for self, spouse and dependents
Fringe benefits: $50k IVF allowance, 16 week fully paid parental leave, lots of other goodies

Moved in house with 5 years of experience from a top renewable energy firm.

Pretty crazy package. Any more color around what "substantial" means? I assume you're private given the type of grant?

Correct, currently private but will be going public in the next ~24 months. Based on current valuations from various banks, the annual equity grant could be valued at anywhere between $250k to $500k. Obviously this can change dramatically in either direction, but the options will almost certainly be in the money unless we go belly-up.

[thisismytlsuername]

Adding another data point here.

Sector: Renewable Energy, fully remote
Base Salary: $265k
Bonus: 30% guaranteed, usually exceeded by ~10%
Equity: Substantial option grants on an annual basis, 1 year cliff + 4 year vesting schedule
PTO: Unlimited (actually means unlimited, not like biglaw -- company doesn't even track it)
401k: 6% match vesting immediately
Hours: Roughly 9am to 5:30pm M-F, almost never weekend work
Medical: Fully paid PPO for self, spouse and dependents
Fringe benefits: $50k IVF allowance, 16 week fully paid parental leave, lots of other goodies

Moved in house with 5 years of experience from a top renewable energy firm.

Pretty crazy package. Any more color around what "substantial" means? I assume you're private given the type of grant?

Correct, currently private but will be going public in the next ~24 months. Based on current valuations from various banks, the annual equity grant could be valued at anywhere between $250k to $500k. Obviously this can change dramatically in either direction, but the options will almost certainly be in the money unless we go belly-up.

Insane package, congrats.

[Anonymous User]

Any recent posters in this thread nervous about moving inhouse given current war? Or no concern?

Everyone always talks about how risk-averse lawyers are, but goddamn, this is a new level. Implication in this question is that being at a firm has more job security than being in-house right now. Why do you think that?

Truth be told, my legal team in-house is much thinner than my corp department was in the firm. In a recession law firms will reduce headcount, but short of the the whole company going under I don't think they could let a single member of the legal team go. I could see future raises getting worse, and no new hiring making the job more demanding, but I feel more job security in-house than I ever did at the firm.

[Anonymous User]

Current 7th year associate in big law, interviewing at a local public company (about 10-15b market cap) in the retail/services sector in a secondary market. Role would be corporate M&A and essentially an Associate GC position. GC reached out to me to see if I was interested so somewhat optimistic about the role. Sounds like it would be a pay increase though benefits are a bit on the weak side (2 weeks vacation, okay HC, 4% 401k match, stock vesting over 4 year period (15/15/20/50), company car) but no remote/hybrid option. From what I've gleaned from HR, salary range is in the $400-600k plus bonus plus stock (noted above). Will report back when I hear more on the numbers/details but given my market it would be a substantial raise from my near market biglaw job. Question will be work/life balance though I was told I would work less than I do now (although have to be in the office 9-5 mon-fri).

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2016

Sector: FAANG
Base Salary: $255k
Bonus: ~25%
Equity: $100k/year
401k: 5% match vesting immediately
Hours: 40-50 hours a week
Medical: Fully paid PPO

[Anonymous User]

Experience: >10 years, but first 5 in litigation/unrelated area of law.
Location: Large Metro
Employer: Fortune 500, financial services (non-banking)
Comp: $152,000 base salary, 35% bonus, 5% stock, 5% profit sharing
Billables/Hours: 40 hours maximum. No late nights no weekends.
Benefits: Paid Medical, Paid Dental, Paid Life Insurance, Lots of PTO, 4% 401k match.

I do a little bit of everything- governance, contracts, compliance, etc.

I am under-market but lucked into this job with no prior experience and have phenomenal work/life balance.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 2019 in finance interviewing now in NYC with several PE shops. No offers yet, but the all-in number for each has been 210k to 230k. Seems alright to me but would be curious of others' thoughts.

Also, any insight on a PE generalist job vs one that's closer to the deal team in terms of work/life balance? I would presume the closer one is to deals, the worse it is, but hopefully it still would be an improvement over biglaw. And maybe a more generalist role would open up more doors in the future?

[Anonymous User]

That salary seems massive. Have worked at multiple public companies in corporate roles, have interviewed with dozens more for similar positions, and have never heard a salary close to $400k, let alone $600k. Many large public company GC salaries aren’t even $600k.

Current 7th year associate in big law, interviewing at a local public company (about 10-15b market cap) in the retail/services sector in a secondary market. Role would be corporate M&A and essentially an Associate GC position. GC reached out to me to see if I was interested so somewhat optimistic about the role. Sounds like it would be a pay increase though benefits are a bit on the weak side (2 weeks vacation, okay HC, 4% 401k match, stock vesting over 4 year period (15/15/20/50), company car) but no remote/hybrid option. From what I've gleaned from HR, salary range is in the $400-600k plus bonus plus stock (noted above). Will report back when I hear more on the numbers/details but given my market it would be a substantial raise from my near market biglaw job. Question will be work/life balance though I was told I would work less than I do now (although have to be in the office 9-5 mon-fri).

[Anonymous User]

Sector: Asset/Investment Manager, hybrid remote/in-office
Total Cash Comp: 290k (mix of base and bonus).
401k: 6% match
Equity: lol, wat is that.
PTO: 21 days a year.
Hours: Roughly 9 to 7 M-F; sometimes there is work on weekends but nothing crazy.

[Anonymous User]

Sector: Asset/Investment Manager, hybrid remote/in-office
Total Cash Comp: 290k (mix of base and bonus).
401k: 6% match
Equity: lol, wat is that.
PTO: 21 days a year.
Hours: Roughly 9 to 7 M-F; sometimes there is work on weekends but nothing crazy.

What's your market/year? This looks very similar (but you have higher cash comp, slightly lower 401k) to what I'm getting in a non-NY/LA major market for a Fortune 500, class of 2016.

[Anonymous User]

Sector: Asset/Investment Manager, hybrid remote/in-office
Total Cash Comp: 290k (mix of base and bonus).
401k: 6% match
Equity: lol, wat is that.
PTO: 21 days a year.
Hours: Roughly 9 to 7 M-F; sometimes there is work on weekends but nothing crazy.

What's your market/year? This looks very similar (but you have higher cash comp, slightly lower 401k) to what I'm getting in a non-NY/LA major market for a Fortune 500, class of 2016.

2014; NYC. My understanding is that we are below market - we used to be at or above, but I think the firm is changing to a new normal... I think a reasonable comp in this market is around 320-330 all in cash. Certainly there are places that are higher (maybe even stretching to 350-400 all in). Keep in mind this is all for my seniority level, which is somewhere in the mid-tier in the corporate hierarchy.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2016

Sector: FAANG
Base Salary: $255k
Bonus: ~25%
Equity: $100k/year
401k: 5% match vesting immediately
Hours: 40-50 hours a week
Medical: Fully paid PPO

That's crazy high, $420k all in/year? $450k 5th year big law comp last year. Amazon was what, $270k all-in comp for 5th years from what I understand.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2016

Sector: FAANG
Base Salary: $255k
Bonus: ~25%
Equity: $100k/year
401k: 5% match vesting immediately
Hours: 40-50 hours a week
Medical: Fully paid PPO

That's crazy high, $420k all in/year? $450k 5th year big law comp last year. Amazon was what, $270k all-in comp for 5th years from what I understand.

Not the OP here. This sounds right based on my interviews with another tech company (not FAANG, but mid-large cap). Keep in mind the 100k is equity. For FAANG that feels very cash like because the equity very liquid, but there are plenty of non-publicly traded places where equity is a true gamble on the company's fortunes because you don't have a readily available secondary market to liquidate.

Here is what the non-FAANG tech company was offering:
Base: 245
Bonus: ~25%
Equity: 100k RSU/year

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017

City: Miami
Sector: PE/Hedge/Venture Fund
All in comp: 450-500k (base, bonus, equity)
Hours: expected to be somewhere around 9-7

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017

City: Miami
Sector: PE/Hedge/Venture Fund
All in comp: 450-500k (base, bonus, equity)
Hours: expected to be somewhere around 9-7

Can I have a job!?

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017

City: Miami
Sector: PE/Hedge/Venture Fund
All in comp: 450-500k (base, bonus, equity)
Hours: expected to be somewhere around 9-7

Would you mind providing how the "equity" piece of this plays here? Is this carry with some kind of 3-5 year horizon and has to hit certain metrics?

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2017

City: Miami
Sector: PE/Hedge/Venture Fund
All in comp: 450-500k (base, bonus, equity)
Hours: expected to be somewhere around 9-7

Would you mind providing how the "equity" piece of this plays here? Is this carry with some kind of 3-5 year horizon and has to hit certain metrics?

Guessing carry points so he can call his bosses “partners”.

[21190319damien]

Class of 2016

Sector: FAANG
Base Salary: $255k
Bonus: ~25%
Equity: $100k/year
401k: 5% match vesting immediately
Hours: 40-50 hours a week
Medical: Fully paid PPO

That's crazy high, $420k all in/year? $450k 5th year big law comp last year. Amazon was what, $270k all-in comp for 5th years from what I understand.

Not the OP here. This sounds right based on my interviews with another tech company (not FAANG, but mid-large cap). Keep in mind the 100k is equity. For FAANG that feels very cash like because the equity very liquid, but there are plenty of non-publicly traded places where equity is a true gamble on the company's fortunes because you don't have a readily available secondary market to liquidate.

Here is what the non-FAANG tech company was offering:
Base: 245
Bonus: ~25%
Equity: 100k RSU/year

OP here. There is definitely a couple of FAANGs that pay higher than the others. Those numbers are based on granted stocks, vested stocks push the equity piece even higher. Many c/o 2015-2016 are making more than their biglaw counterparts, while working 35-45 hours a week.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any insight on the new Amazon bands?

[Anonymous User]

That salary seems massive. Have worked at multiple public companies in corporate roles, have interviewed with dozens more for similar positions, and have never heard a salary close to $400k, let alone $600k. Many large public company GC salaries aren’t even $600k.

Current 7th year associate in big law, interviewing at a local public company (about 10-15b market cap) in the retail/services sector in a secondary market. Role would be corporate M&A and essentially an Associate GC position. GC reached out to me to see if I was interested so somewhat optimistic about the role. Sounds like it would be a pay increase though benefits are a bit on the weak side (2 weeks vacation, okay HC, 4% 401k match, stock vesting over 4 year period (15/15/20/50), company car) but no remote/hybrid option. From what I've gleaned from HR, salary range is in the $400-600k plus bonus plus stock (noted above). Will report back when I hear more on the numbers/details but given my market it would be a substantial raise from my near market biglaw job. Question will be work/life balance though I was told I would work less than I do now (although have to be in the office 9-5 mon-fri).

Original poster for this. I agree, massive. Haven't received firm details yet, but I do know the GC's cash compensation is north of $1.5m (from SEC fillings). It's pretty unbelievable if what I was told holds true.

[Anonymous User]

Mind providing title and class year? Trying to figure out if my mid large cap tech (Non FAANG) salary of $230k is low given my class year and title.

Class of 2016

Sector: FAANG
Base Salary: $255k
Bonus: ~25%
Equity: $100k/year
401k: 5% match vesting immediately
Hours: 40-50 hours a week
Medical: Fully paid PPO

That's crazy high, $420k all in/year? $450k 5th year big law comp last year. Amazon was what, $270k all-in comp for 5th years from what I understand.

Not the OP here. This sounds right based on my interviews with another tech company (not FAANG, but mid-large cap). Keep in mind the 100k is equity. For FAANG that feels very cash like because the equity very liquid, but there are plenty of non-publicly traded places where equity is a true gamble on the company's fortunes because you don't have a readily available secondary market to liquidate.

Here is what the non-FAANG tech company was offering:
Base: 245
Bonus: ~25%
Equity: 100k RSU/year