When you are putting together an offer on Get on Board, total compensation is the full value you provide — not just the salary line. Understanding the parts helps you compare offers fairly and explain yours clearly.
What total compensation includes
- Base salary: the fixed, recurring pay. This is what most benchmarks refer to.
- Variable pay: bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing tied to performance or results.
- Equity: stock options or shares, more common at startups and growth-stage companies.
- Benefits and perks: health coverage, education budgets, hardware, and time off — some with real monetary value.
Why the distinction matters
Salary benchmarks typically refer to base salary only. If you compare your total package against a base-salary benchmark, you will think you are paying more than you are. Evaluate variable pay, equity, and benefits separately so you are comparing like with like.
How Insights Pro shows this
Insights Pro salary recommendations cover base gross salary in USD, which keeps them comparable across offers. For the non-monetary side, Insights Pro+ shows which perks are most frequently offered for each profile.
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