Total Compensation Basics: What to Review Beyond Salary

List the components you can confirm

Start with the information you have in writing. Separate guaranteed pay from amounts that depend on company, team, or individual performance.

• Base salary and pay schedule.
• Bonus or incentive plan details, including how eligibility works.
• Equity or long-term incentives, including the grant type and vesting schedule.
• Retirement match, health coverage, paid time off, and other benefits that matter to you.

Ask how each component works

The value of a component often depends on its rules. For example, a bonus may have targets and eligibility requirements, while equity may have a vesting schedule and terms that affect when it becomes yours.

Ask for plan documents or a plain-language explanation when something is unclear. It is reasonable to take time to review an offer before responding.

Compare like with like

Use the same categories for every offer or role you are reviewing. That prevents an appealing headline number from hiding a meaningful difference elsewhere in the package.

A simple worksheet can help you record what is known, what is variable, and which questions still need answers.

Use this as a starting point, not personal advice

Worthwise provides educational tools only. Tax treatment, benefit eligibility, equity value, and employment rights can depend on your circumstances and location. Consider qualified professional advice for decisions that need it.