Exposing The Brutal Reality of My Amazon Compensation Package
The Deceptive Layers of My $260,000 Compensation at AWS — An Insider’s Tale
Hey curious minds!
Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on the often-veiled world of tech compensation, where the elephant in the room is the figure on your paycheck.
I’m Usman, your guide through the layers of my post-AWS compensation saga, here to share insights and lessons that go beyond the numbers.
A Lucrative Package Awaits
In 2020, I embarked on a journey as a Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, enticed by the allure of a slightly over a $260,000 compensation package.
This sum included a base salary of $160,000, a sign-up bonus of $175,000 (split into $100,000 for year 1 and $75,000 for year 2), and an additional $300,000 in RSUs distributed over four years.
Breaking it down annually, my salary progression was projected as follows:
- $260,000 in year 1
- $270,000 in year 2
- $280,000 in year 3
- $280,000 in year 4
This transparent view provided a roadmap of the salary structure throughout the four-year period.
