How does the FDE compensation calculator work?

It models four years of cash (base + bonus) plus vesting equity, with optional annual refreshers and a liquidity haircut for PPU/paper equity. Results are directional for negotiation prep, not official offers.

Can I share my compensation model?

Yes. The calculator stores employer, level, base, grant, growth, bonus, equity type, haircut, and refresher assumptions in the URL so you can copy and share a link.

How should I model PPUs vs RSUs?

Public RSUs usually use a near-zero liquidity haircut. PPUs and private paper equity often deserve a 25–40% haircut until you have a concrete liquidity path. See the FDE compensation negotiation guide for the full framework.

Tools

FDE total compensation calculator

Compare directional 4-year outcomes across AI-lab and platform FDE presets — including RSU vs PPU liquidity haircuts and refresher assumptions. Then negotiate with the compensation guide.

Employer preset

Presets are directional modeling defaults — not official offers. Read equity negotiation guide before treating paper TC as cash.

Level labelEquity typeBase salary (USD)Initial equity grant (USD face)Assumed annual equity growth (%)Liquidity haircut (%)Annual refresher (USD face)Target bonus (% of base)

4-year liquidity-adjusted model

$2,381,664

Cash + equity after 30% liquidity haircut. Marked face path: $2,949,806 (PPU / lab paper units).

Year 1$264,000 cash · $153,362 adj. equity · $417,362

Year 2$264,000 cash · $322,061 adj. equity · $586,061

Year 3$264,000 cash · $386,473 adj. equity · $650,473

Year 4$264,000 cash · $463,768 adj. equity · $727,768

Cash (base + bonus) Equity after haircut

How to use this

Public RSUs usually keep haircut near 0%; PPU/paper often deserve 25–40% until you have a real liquidity path.
Refreshers are simplified as year-of-grant face value — ask recruiters for actual vest schedules.
Cross-check bands on OpenAI salary hub and negotiate with the compensation guide.

Continue