Should I take this job offer, or stay at my current company?
TL;DR: Compare the new offer's full real compensation (base, bonus, equity, benefits, cost-of-living adjustment) against your CURRENT role's full real compensation — not just your current base salary. Staying often carries value a simple salary comparison misses: vested equity you'd forfeit, tenure-based benefits, and the real (not zero) risk cost of a new, unproven role.
What people typically compare, and why it's incomplete
The common comparison is "new base salary vs current base salary" — but this ignores unvested equity you'd forfeit by leaving, any bonus structure that rewards tenure, and the fact that a new role carries genuine uncertainty (ramp-up time, unknown team dynamics, a probation period) that a comfortable, known role doesn't.
What to actually put on both sides of the comparison
- Current role: base + realistic bonus + any vested/vesting equity value + benefits, honestly assessed — not just the number on your last payslip
- New offer: base + bonus + newly granted equity (annualized over its vesting period) + benefits − any commute change − cost-of-living difference if relocating
The forfeited-equity trap
Leaving before equity fully vests means walking away from real, already-earned value — this is a genuine cost of switching that a simple "new salary is bigger" comparison completely misses. It doesn't mean never leave with unvested equity on the table, but it does mean that value needs to be subtracted from what you're truly comparing against.
When the math is genuinely close
If the real, adjusted numbers land within a few percent of each other, that's the point where non-financial factors — growth trajectory, how much you're learning, how sustainable your current role feels — should reasonably decide it, since the financial case alone isn't decisive.
Run the actual numbers on both sides
Our Job Offer Decision Report compares two offers (your current role counts as "Offer A") on real, cost-of-living-adjusted terms — including equity and commute — so you're deciding on the full picture, not just the base salary line.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a new job offer is actually better than my current job?
Compare the full real compensation on both sides — base, bonus, annualized equity, and benefits, adjusted for cost of living if relocating — not just the base salary difference. Also account for any equity you'd forfeit by leaving your current role before it fully vests.
Should I stay at my job for unvested equity?
It's a real cost worth weighing, not an automatic reason to stay — walking away from unvested equity means giving up already-earned value, so subtract that forfeited amount from the new offer's advantage before deciding whether switching is still worth it.
What if a new job offer and my current salary are close?
If the real, adjusted numbers are within a few percent of each other, the financial case alone isn't decisive — that's the point where growth trajectory, learning, team, and role scope should reasonably drive the decision instead.