Typically, even key employees just get a few tens of thousands of dollars
Yep, once dilution is factored in... Basically unless you are a founder, equity should not be a factor in deciding whether to join a startup. Do it because you believe in the mission, do it because you want the experience, whatever. Not that a 5-figure cheque isn't nice, mind. I paid off all my student debt and did some traveling when a dotcom IPO'd (same dotcom paid me nearly as much as a severance package about a year later). But don't count on retiring even if everything goes perfectly.
Yep, once dilution is factored in... Basically unless you are a founder, equity should not be a factor in deciding whether to join a startup. Do it because you believe in the mission, do it because you want the experience, whatever. Not that a 5-figure cheque isn't nice, mind. I paid off all my student debt and did some traveling when a dotcom IPO'd (same dotcom paid me nearly as much as a severance package about a year later). But don't count on retiring even if everything goes perfectly.