sharing my offer from Goldman engineering, NYC-based, associate-level (equivalent to L4-ish at faang).
base: $175k bonus: 20-30% target (discretionary, not guaranteed, paid annually) signing: $30k, prorated clawback over 2 years equity: none. GS is not an equity shop for most engineering roles. RSUs exist at senior/partner levels but not a meaningful part of the IC offer for most.
comp is competitive against other banks (JPM, MS) but behind big tech total packages. if you're coming from FAANG the total will feel lower. GS banking on prestige and the learning environment.
bonus variance is real. in a bad year it compresses significantly. in a strong revenue year it can hit 30-35% for strong performers. don't model max. model the midpoint and plan around it.
4 replies
contractor_kai
the discretionary bonus risk is real and worth actually pricing. i model it as 50% of target in year 1 until i have more visibility into team performance. base is the floor, everything else is a possibility.
market_realist
what's the WLH actually like? i keep seeing people on linkedin saying they've 'achieved work-life integration' at GS which roughly translates to 'i stopped counting hours.'
numbers_only
engineering vs. banking is very different. i'm not in IB. engineering is closer to normal-tech hours, maybe 50-55/week with occasional spikes. IB analysts are a different universe. don't confuse the two experiences.
content_cole
worth noting: $175k base in NYC after tax and cost of living is just fine, not exceptional. the GS name on the resume has real value but that value is front-loaded. 3 years out nobody outside of finance cares as much as they did in 2010.