Classify timing and certainty before comparing amounts
| Form | Timing | Value label to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Raise | Recurring after effective date | Entered guaranteed-pay scenario |
| Bonus | Payment date and conditions | Stated or contingent amount |
| Equity face value | Grant and vest schedule | Headline amount, not realised cash |
| Expected/vested value | Scenario horizon | Assumption-labelled value |
| Realised value | After actual event | Do not forecast as guaranteed |
Choose the specialist model for each component
For recurring pay change, use the Pay raise guide, use the Pay raise calculator, and inspect its methodology.
For a bounded bonus scenario, use the Bonus guide, use the Bonus calculator, and inspect its methodology.
For the package ledger, use the Total compensation guide, use the Total compensation calculator, and inspect its methodology.
For instrument-neutral uncertainty, use the Equity compensation value guide, use the Equity compensation value calculator, and inspect its methodology.
For an RSU schedule, use the RSU vesting value guide, use the RSU vesting value calculator, and inspect its methodology.
For option-specific inputs, use the Stock option offer value guide, use the Stock option offer value calculator, and inspect its methodology.
Test uncertainty and prevent double counting
- Choose one horizon and map effective, payment and vesting dates.
- Keep face, expected, vested and realised values in separate rows.
- Retest uncertain shares without calling them forecasts.
- Transfer only one selected equity interpretation into total compensation.
- Record cash preference, concentration risk and career fit qualitatively.
Frequently asked questions
- Is headline grant value the same as cash compensation?
- No. Vesting, realizability, instrument terms and timing separate a headline grant from realised cash.
- Does this guide recommend cash or equity?
- No. It structures the comparison and keeps uncertainty visible without selecting a preferred form.
Sources checked
- Wages and working time statistics: concepts and definitions — ILOSTAT (accessed 2026-07-28): Conceptual context for keeping earnings, hours and time periods explicit; not a local legal rule.
- Resolution concerning the measurement of working time — International Labour Organization (accessed 2026-07-28): Conceptual working-time boundary only; no jurisdiction-specific entitlement is inferred.