A US startup offered me $1,800/month for a senior React role. Here is what I answered

Last week a recruiter from a startup in Austin wrote me on LinkedIn. Very nice, very excited. "Senior Frontend Engineer, React, TypeScript, Next.js, full overlap with Central time". I have 6 years working with React so I said ok, let's talk.

Two calls and one take-home later (4 hours, unpaid, I know, I know), the offer: 1,800 USD per month, contractor, no PTO, "but great equity".

For context: in Guadalajara some local companies pay a senior less than that, so they think it is generous. But is very important that people understand this: you are not hiring a cheaper person, you are hiring the same work. The take-home I did is the same take-home they give in Austin.

So I answered this (more or less):

Thank you for the offer, I really enjoyed the process. Based on the scope of the role and the market rate for senior engineers working US hours from LATAM, my expectation is 5,500 to 6,500 USD per month, with paid time off. If that range doesn't work for your budget, I completely understand, and I would be happy to stay in touch.

They said no. And that's ok! Some tips if this happens to you:

• Don't explain your rent. Your salary is about your work, not about how cheap the tacos are
• Give a range with real data. Ask friends, read public salary posts, there are many in codigo_en_espanol
• Ask about PTO and holidays in writing. "Contractor" many times means zero days off
• Equity in a 6 person startup is a lottery ticket. Nice, but you can't pay rent with it
• Saying no is a skill. Polite, short, door open

Two days later another company offered 6,000. So. Don't accept the first number 💜