Compensation guide
How to compare FDE offers
No salary table here: no figure holds across employers, levels and locations. Compare written terms, and keep guaranteed, estimated and conditional amounts apart.
Build a like-for-like comparison
Same period, same currency. Annual pay and a multi-year grant never share a column.
| Field | Record |
|---|---|
| Role | Exact title, level, team and location |
| Source | Official posting or written offer, with date |
| Salary | Amount, currency and pay period |
| Bonus or variable pay | Target, conditions, timing and whether guaranteed |
| Sign-on | Amount, payment date and any repayment terms |
| Equity | Award type, quantity, vesting and valuation assumptions |
| Other terms | Benefits, location, travel, on-call and expenses |
Self-reported pay suggests questions to ask. It does not predict your offer.
How FDE offers are structured
| Component | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Salary | What amount is guaranteed, in which currency and for what period? |
| Variable pay | What determines payment, who assesses it and when is it paid? |
| Sign-on payment | Is it one-time, and when could repayment be required? |
| Equity | What is the award type, quantity and vesting schedule? What conditions affect its value or ability to sell? |
| Benefits and expenses | What is included, and how are travel and other work costs handled? |
Compare locations carefully
Do
- Compare the actual role, currency, employment terms, benefits and working arrangements.
- Write down exchange-rate assumptions when you convert.
- Get qualified local advice when tax or equity terms could change your decision.
Avoid
- A universal percentage to translate an offer between countries or cities.
FDE vs product engineering
The title does not establish a pay premium, promotion speed or equity policy. Compare actual roles at the same level and location, and ask about:
- Ownership
- Customer time
- Production support
- Career progression
Questions for an offer discussion
- role and level
- Which responsibilities set the level, and which of your experience counts toward it?
- cash
- Which components are open to discussion, and which are fixed by policy? Get revised terms in writing.
- equity and reviews
- What does the award represent, what conditions apply, how are future reviews handled?
- working terms
- Location, travel, office presence, on-call, expenses, and the support to meet the role's expectations.
Understand progression
Ask how the employer evaluates performance, widens responsibility and decides pay.
Keep a record of your contribution and observed results. It supports the conversation; it does not guarantee the raise. See FDE capabilities.
FAQ
How much does an FDE make?
There is no single reliable figure across employers, levels and locations. Check a current official posting and compare its stated salary separately from other compensation.
Do FDEs earn more than product engineers?
The title alone cannot answer that. Compare specific roles, levels, locations and compensation terms.
Is compensation negotiable?
Policies differ. Ask which parts can be discussed, and weigh responsibilities and working conditions alongside the amounts.
How does pay differ outside the United States?
Use local role-specific sources and the actual offer. A universal ratio to US compensation can hide differences in currency, benefits, employment terms and equity.
What supports compensation growth?
Know the employer's progression criteria and keep a truthful record of your contribution. Pay also depends on factors outside your performance.
Use FDEOps with your coding agent
A method for each stage, from discovery to handoff, and a local record of every engagement. Use one task on its own or run a whole engagement. The decisions stay yours.