Tech offer equity tool

RSU / Equity Offer Calculator

Estimate the practical value of RSUs, stock grants or equity awards in a job offer. Model vesting, expected stock-price changes, refreshers, expected stay, tax buffer, equity left behind and total compensation before comparing or negotiating an offer.

RSU offer value 4-year vesting Stock scenarios Refreshers Total compensation
Calculate equity value Compare offers Signing bonus Salary negotiation Relocation offer Severance package 401(k) match Job offer hub Relocation offer Severance package 401(k) match
Educational estimate only. Equity value depends on actual vesting terms, share price, liquidity, tax withholding, company performance, continued employment and your personal risk tolerance. Verify your offer letter, equity plan, tax treatment and advisor guidance before relying on the result.

When this calculator helps

Equity-heavy offers can look strong on paper but depend on vesting, stock movement, refreshers and whether you stay long enough to receive the shares.

Estimate RSU grant valueTurn a headline RSU grant into year-by-year vested value and average annual compensation. Model stock-price scenariosCompare flat, downside and upside assumptions without pretending the future stock price is known. Check expected-stay valueEstimate how much equity may vest if you stay one, two, three or four years. Use it inside offer comparisonBring the annualized equity estimate into the broader job offer comparison calculator.

RSU and equity offer value calculator

Enter the offer's equity grant, vesting schedule and scenario assumptions. The calculator estimates vested equity value, first-year total compensation, total value over your expected stay, average annual equity, risk-adjusted value and a copyable offer summary.

Cash compensation

Equity grant and vesting

Use the offer's stated grant value or shares × current share price.
Only vested equity within this period is counted.
Estimated new annual equity grants after the first year.

Scenario and risk assumptions

Use 0 for flat, negative for downside, positive for upside.
Broad estimate only; not tax advice.
Use a higher discount for private companies or concentrated risk.
Optional. Helps compare against your current role.
Expected vested equity$0Gross equity value expected to vest during your expected stay.
After-buffer equity$0Equity after estimated tax and liquidity / concentration discount.
Average annual equity$0After-buffer equity divided by expected stay.
First-year total comp$0Base, bonus, benefits, signing bonus and Year 1 equity estimate.
Total value over stay$0Cash compensation plus after-buffer equity over your expected stay.
Equity share of value0%Shows how dependent the offer is on stock performance.

What makes equity offers hard to compare

The headline RSU grant is not the same as cash salary. You need to know when it vests, how stock price changes affect it, whether refreshers are likely, how much equity you leave behind, and whether the company is public or private enough for the shares to be useful.

Vesting timing

A large grant may be back-loaded, cliff-based or dependent on continued employment. Value that vests later carries more uncertainty.

Stock scenario

Flat, downside and upside assumptions can produce very different compensation outcomes. Do not treat the offer's current grant value as guaranteed cash.

Refreshers and cliffs

Some companies use annual refreshers to keep compensation stable after the initial grant. Others create a compensation drop after the initial grant ends.

RSU offer comparison checklist

QuestionWhy it matters
What is the actual vesting schedule?Year-by-year vesting matters more than the headline grant value when comparing offers.
Is the company public or private?Public RSUs are easier to value and sell. Private-company equity may need a liquidity discount.
Are refreshers expected or discretionary?Refreshers can change later-year compensation and reduce the cliff after the initial grant.
How is equity taxed or withheld?RSUs are commonly taxed when they vest, but your final tax result depends on your situation.
What equity are you leaving behind?Unvested shares at your current employer can offset part of the new offer's equity value.

Related job offer calculators

Job Offer Comparison CalculatorCompare the equity-adjusted offer with salary, benefits, PTO, commute and true hourly value. Signing Bonus CalculatorCompare first-year cash with equity timing and base salary trade-offs. Salary Negotiation CalculatorUse equity, refreshers or sign-on bonus as levers in a counter-offer range.
Job offer hub Relocation offer Severance package 401(k) match Salary vs hourly Remote vs commute W2 vs 1099

FAQ

Is RSU value guaranteed?

No. RSU value depends on vesting, continued employment, company stock price, liquidity, tax treatment and any plan restrictions. Treat the result as a scenario estimate.

Should I use current grant value or number of shares?

If the offer gives a dollar grant value, enter that value. If it gives shares, multiply shares by current stock price and enter the result.

Why include a liquidity or concentration discount?

Equity is usually less certain than cash salary. A discount helps reflect private-company liquidity risk, stock concentration, lockups or personal risk tolerance.

Can this calculate exact taxes?

No. It uses a user-entered buffer only. Actual withholding and taxes depend on your jurisdiction, income, vesting dates, brokerage handling and personal tax situation.