Comment by mancerayder

I've been working in finance for years, and a couple of startups. From my own personal experience and from the experience of many people I know, you get stock but the stock is viewed as a 'nice little bonus' versus something that you expect to change your life.

In New York City:

Small tech startup -> very low salaries, questionable options

Fintech -> higher salaries (than tech), "nice to have bonus" type of stock options, plus a bonus

Banks and Hedge Funds -> For tech people, this is the "FANG equivalent". High salaries, big bonuses, and stocks that aren't theoretical. The pay is probably is not in the millions, but close to half a million if you're a Director or above on the tech side. Bankers always make more than tech, and tech is always viewed as a cost.

Now, Amazon and Google are expanding. I'm not sure how this will change the landscape.

I read a substantial part of this thread, and honestly I don't know a single person making 200K a year in equity as per some comments here.

Maybe I'm in the wrong part of the country.

Fintec