I actually don't get how it works working at a non-profit. Like everyone else I know working in tech, the vast majority of my compensation is in stock. If your company doesn't have stock... what do they do? I guess they don't pay you 4x the base rate to compensation?
First of all, you probably will get less total comp at Mozilla than you could elsewhere. You'll still be paid well compared to many developers working outside SF/NYC/etc, though.
Second, instead of stock you'll get a higher potential bonus. The bonus percentage increases based on your level.
Third, benefits are generous. Being able to work remotely was a particularly unique and valuable one for a long time.
Fourth, the class and scale of the problems Mozilla is solving are interesting and challenging, which is a motivation for some employees.
Fifth, the mission and the commitment to open source are a motivation to many employees as well.
(These are just my personal observations as a current employee)
Yeah, I mean, it sounds like the people you know are a relatively thin slice of the upper few % of people working in tech, compensation-wise.
Most of the people I know in tech work for governments, non-profits, small business, private companies, etc. that don't offer stock-based compensation. They just make much less in total comp than BigTech stock-heavy jobs.
I don’t know why not. That’s what I’m asking. Is that what they do? If Google pay you $200k plus $500k stock do Mozilla pay you $700k cash instead. Maybe they do. Just seems doubtful somehow... seems like there must be a reason Google prefer to put it in stock.
Companies pay in stock because it's not an immediate cash cost like salary, and because the value is tied to the success of the company which encourages employees to drive progress/profit for the business.
That said, is always a mix, and a balancing act. And a matter of finding something fun to work on :)