
Tech Sector Insights: Mastering Employment Plan Negotiations
FINANCIAL ADVICE | GUIDANCE | INSIGHTS | OBSERVATIONS
Even after a couple years of turmoil, featuring high-profile layoffs at some of the biggest companies, tech professionals are still enthusiastic about leaping at new opportunities.
According to the Dice Tech Sentiments Report, in 2024, 39% of tech professionals engaged in job searches, up seven percentage points from the year before. Additionally, the desire to switch employers has grown, with 67% of respondents considering a change last year, compared to 60% in 2023. And employees at big names like Amazon, Apple, Meta, Boeing, Nike, Starbucks, and Oracle are among them.
At WestStar, our financial advisors have decades of experience in helping tech professionals maximize their compensation programs and master the intricacy that comes with being paid in complex ways – and that includes how to factor an employee benefit package into your considerations when changing jobs.
“One thing we often talk to tech professionals about is helping them to negotiate their next job.”
– Sam Gullette, CFP®, CLU®
Certified Financial Planner™

Key Findings
- Professionals’ primary motivations for considering a job change include higher compensation (65%), greater responsibility (42%), and improved benefits (36%).
- Professionals aged 35-44 are the most common age demographic to be looking for a change in their company or position.
- Tech professionals who are either newer to their role (1-2 years) or highly tenured in their role (10-19 years) show a higher propensity to switch.
- Those with 11-20 years of experience in the tech field are particularly likely to be considering a move.
- Employees at smaller companies are more likely to seek new opportunities.
- The keys to a successful switch include strategic planning, confidence, and the ability to advocate for your worth.
Below, we’ll unpack how to make a change in your work situation do work for you.
Handling Job Transition Complexity with Care
Many of our tech professional clients change companies fairly often and have to engage with new plans each time – while still keeping track of the old investments they left behind. While they may be smart enough to figure it all out on their own, they have far less time than money, and that’s why an experienced helping hand can be vital in ensuring that nothing is left on the table.
Part of their problem lies in complexity: first, the complexity of their current employment package and second, the complexity of what’s on offer.

Many tech professionals are naturally overwhelmed by the complexity of looking backwards and forwards at the same time.
When we speak with clients who are looking to switch jobs, we tell them to consider three key questions:
- What are you worth?
- What are you walking away from?
- What is the real value of the new package on offer?
Through our time as advisors, we’ve worked with many different clients, at many different levels, across many different companies. That’s given us unique understanding of the major players in the greater Seattle area and insight into how they work.
When someone’s getting paid $500,000 a year at one company and they’re thinking about going somewhere else, we have a pretty good sense, based on their title and their job responsibility, what the market might pay at other companies. We take pride in helping them to get a good sense of the likely value of the package on offer from their potential new employer.
Negotiating for More Than Just a Paycheck
Negotiating an employment package in the tech sector requires strategic planning, confidence, and the ability to advocate for your worth while maintaining a professional tone.
When we set out to help a client negotiate their next job, we encourage them to take inventory of what they have now. Whether you have unvested shares in your current company or access to an ESPP with a 15% discount, you’ll want to make sure that the new company is aware that you’re leaving that behind – and can pay you in stock or even slightly higher base pay in order to offset that. Don’t miss out!
But we also always have conversations around how much are they being offered in cash and how much are they being offered in stock, because there are pros and cons to each. We benchmark that offer with what we see in the market, how they’re getting compensated in total, and then have a conversation around optimal allocation. If the next company you’re joining is growing rapidly, you might be more willing to take less cash and more stock – but if it’s a well-established slower growing company, you may want more cash and less stock.
“It’s important to look at your compensation as the entire package – which is going to include your base pay, any bonuses or commissions, 401(k) match, healthcare, day care, ESPP, stock options or RSUs.”
– Erik Alexander
Financial Consultant

We help our clients to look at the totality of their job offer, because each piece has a certain amount of monetary value, and help them to evaluate whether the package is commensurate with or above what they would be leaving behind. Also, everything that’s offered has its advantages and disadvantages outside of dollars and cents, and those considerations can be very important.
WestStar’s Job-Change Playbook
Here’s our step-by-step guide to help you navigate this process:
1. Do Your Research
- Market Salary Data: Use websites like Glassdoor, Payscale, or Levels.fyi to understand the market rates for your position in the tech sector, considering your experience level, skills, and location. This will give you a baseline for what’s fair and competitive.
- Company Insights: Look into the company’s compensation practices, benefits, and perks. Websites like Blind or Glassdoor can help you with this.
- Industry Standards: Understand the standard benefits offered in the tech sector, such as stock options, performance bonuses, or flexible work arrangements.
2. Know Your Value
- Evaluate Your Skills: Assess the unique skills and experiences that make you a valuable asset to the company. Consider your technical abilities, problem-solving capacity, and any leadership experience.
- Prepare to Articulate: Be ready to explain why your skills justify the compensation you’re requesting. This includes both technical skills (e.g., proficiency in a certain programming language or technology) and soft skills (e.g., collaboration, project management, leadership).
- Quantify Your Impact: If possible, highlight previous projects where you made a measurable impact. Examples could include boosting efficiency, increasing revenue, or successfully leading a team.
3. Clarify the Full Package
An employment package in the tech sector goes beyond just base salary. Consider the following components:

- Base Salary: Ensure it aligns with your expectations based on your research and experience.
- Stock Options or Equity: Many tech companies, especially startups, offer stock options or equity as part of the compensation. Understand the value of these, including the vesting schedule and any performance metrics tied to them.
- Bonuses and Performance Incentives: Negotiate bonuses tied to individual or company-wide performance.
- Benefits: Health insurance, retirement contributions (401k, pension), paid time off (PTO), parental leave, wellness programs, and education reimbursement can all be part of the package.
- Remote Work Flexibility: If applicable, negotiate the possibility of remote or hybrid work arrangements, which are highly valued in the tech sector.
- Relocation Assistance: If moving for the job, ask about relocation packages that cover moving costs, temporary housing, and other relocation expenses.
- Professional Development: Companies in tech often offer education reimbursements or opportunities for certifications and courses. This can be an important factor in your long-term career growth.
4. Engage in the Negotiation Process
- Express Enthusiasm: Make sure the employer knows you’re excited about the role. You want to come across as eager to join, but also as someone who knows their worth.
- Wait for the Offer: Never negotiate until you have a formal job offer. Negotiating too early can work against you.
- Counter the Offer: If the initial offer doesn’t meet your expectations, respond with a counter-offer that includes specific numbers. For example:
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to work with your team and contribute to the innovative projects at [Company]. I’m also excited about the offer, but I was hoping for a base salary of $X based on my experience and current market trends for similar roles.”

Recognize that you wouldn’t be in the position you’re in unless the company you’re negotiating with values what you add to their team or project.
5. Be Open to Trade-Offs
- Sometimes, companies might not be able to meet all your salary demands but can offer other perks or benefits (e.g., more stock options, additional vacation time, or flexible work hours). Be open to negotiating the entire package rather than focusing only on salary.
- Consider the long-term potential: If salary flexibility is limited, but the company has strong growth potential, equity or a future salary review may provide a better overall package in the long run.
6. Clarify Your Growth Path
- Ask about the potential for future salary reviews, bonuses, or promotions. If the company can’t meet your salary expectations now, you may want to negotiate a clear path to future increases based on performance.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Walk Away
If the offer doesn’t meet your needs or expectations, be ready to politely decline. It’s crucial to have confidence in your value and know when to move on. Remember, the right company will value you and will work to meet your compensation requirements.
8. Get Everything in Writing
- Once you’ve agreed on terms, ensure that the details of the compensation package (salary, equity, benefits, bonuses, etc.) are clearly outlined in your official offer letter or contract.
9. Be Professional and Polite
- Throughout the negotiation, always maintain a professional and polite tone. Avoid making ultimatums or appearing too aggressive. You want to maintain a positive relationship, whether or not you accept the offer.
By following these steps, you will be well-prepared to negotiate an employment package that reflects your skills and market value while fostering a positive relationship with your potential future employer.
If you have questions about your specific circumstances, or want to make sure you’re equipped with the guidance and advice to pursue changing your job or company with real confidence and clarity, please get in touch.
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We welcome the opportunity to chat with you and wish you every success in the future.

Sam Gullette, CFP®, CLU®
Certified Financial Planner™
‘My mission in life is to help people take control of their money and avoid financial stresses. My clients are successful professionals and executives, many of whom are compensated heavily with company stock. Together we maximize their wealth-building opportunities, minimize taxes, and make sure their family is protected if life throws them a curveball.’

Erik Alexander
Financial Consultant
‘I work with professionals and executives who are compensated through various forms of company stock. They have more money than time and struggle to balance the key aspects of their lives. Their decisions affect others, and they feel a huge responsibility towards making them wisely. I enjoy helping them solve their complex problems, and being counted on for their and their families’ financial wellbeing.’