No. Assuming this is a full-time position in the United States, $22K is well below even internship compensation.
You have many more job opportunities available to you. You need to put yourself out there and find them.
Prepare your resume today. Start applying. You're not obligated to accept the other jobs, but you'll never know unless you put yourself out there. Don't delay this.
> How can I negotiate a (much) higher total compensation for myself?
Interview at other companies. Secure job offers with higher pay. Accept the job offer you like the most.
If you really want to stay for some reason, you could use the competing offers to try to renegotiate with your current company. However, make sure you have good reason to stay. It's difficult to rebuild a relationship like this once you've reached the point of feeling cheated by the founders.
> but I've discovered they've lowballed the lead frontend engineer also (<0.5%)
If the lead frontend engineer is receiving a market-rate salary, getting 0.5% in options isn't actually a lowball.
The unfortunate reality of startup equity is that there isn't much to go around to non-founders who are collecting salaries. Offers above the 1-2% range are usually reserved for VP-level positions and higher. Equity in the 10%+ range is only really seen for cofounders, once you factor in seed stage funding.
Thanks for the response. I definetly know I can easily make double with my experience. I'm in the UK (non-London), and while I enjoy the project and opportunity to lead here, I'm not willing to do it for my current TC. My biggest question is how I can negotiate a salary I'd be happier with before outright leaving.
If you can easily make double and you'd be happy with double, ask for double. (BTW it's crucial to specify location and currency when discussing compensation online. 22K pounds in a non-London location is very different than $22K USD in a major US city, for example)
Best case, you get what you ask for.
Worst case, they say no and you're right back where you started.
Your negotiating position will be 10X more effective if you're actually willing to walk away from this company. If they think you're going to stay regardless of how much they pay you, they might try to call your bluff and continue underpaying you.
Appreciate the advice. I'm not so invested here that I'm not willing to walk away, and if they have considered that I might do so, it isn't reflected in their efforts to compensate me.
No. Assuming this is a full-time position in the United States, $22K is well below even internship compensation.
You have many more job opportunities available to you. You need to put yourself out there and find them.
Prepare your resume today. Start applying. You're not obligated to accept the other jobs, but you'll never know unless you put yourself out there. Don't delay this.
> How can I negotiate a (much) higher total compensation for myself?
Interview at other companies. Secure job offers with higher pay. Accept the job offer you like the most.
If you really want to stay for some reason, you could use the competing offers to try to renegotiate with your current company. However, make sure you have good reason to stay. It's difficult to rebuild a relationship like this once you've reached the point of feeling cheated by the founders.
> but I've discovered they've lowballed the lead frontend engineer also (<0.5%)
If the lead frontend engineer is receiving a market-rate salary, getting 0.5% in options isn't actually a lowball.
The unfortunate reality of startup equity is that there isn't much to go around to non-founders who are collecting salaries. Offers above the 1-2% range are usually reserved for VP-level positions and higher. Equity in the 10%+ range is only really seen for cofounders, once you factor in seed stage funding.