sharing a data point since I never see Minneapolis comp discussed:
Role: Senior Data Scientist, Analytics Location: Minneapolis HQ (hybrid 3 days in office) Level: Sr. equivalent Year: offer received late 2025
Base: $138k Bonus target: 12% (paid out around 90% last year per recruiter) RSU: $60k over 4 years, standard cliff Total comp: roughly $155k at target bonus
Minneapolis is genuinely cheaper than NYC/SF/Seattle so the purchasing power is not bad, but the base was lower than I expected given the scope of the role. I negotiated the base up $8k from the original offer. They moved without much pushback.
Benefits are solid: 401k match is decent, health is employer-paid at a good chunk. Employee discount is 10% which doesn't sound huge but adds up if you shop there at all.
Had competing offers from two other companies which I think helped. If you're going into Target negotiations without alternatives, build your case on market data at least.
4 replies
contractor_kai
the RSU grant schedule matters a lot at Target. it's not FAANG RSU appreciation but they're a stable large-cap so the vesting is pretty reliable. for someone who's been contract for a while, that stability and predictable equity has a real dollar value that's hard to put in a spreadsheet.
finance_faye
that bonus payout rate of ~90% tracks with what I've heard. Target has a pretty clear performance metric system for bonus, it's not all vibes. total comp at $155k in Minneapolis is competitive when you cost-adjust. not FAANG but Target is not trying to be FAANG.
numbers_only
agreed, and the culture is notably more stable than the last two companies I was at. no one's going through an acquisition or a "restructuring" every 9 months. that has value I didn't fully price before.
laidoff_lena
thank you for sharing this. the "they moved without pushback" detail is useful. some companies have truly rigid bands and others are just testing if you'll ask. sounds like Target is the latter.