Job-change vesting guide
Compare the vesting cliff with the cost of delaying a new job
A vesting date can make a few weeks at a job unusually valuable, but the quoted unvested balance is only one side of the decision. The new job may pay more during the same period or replace part of the forfeited amount with a signing bonus.
Use the next meaningful vest event rather than every future grant. The result answers a narrow timing question through that date and keeps longer-term career considerations separate.
How to use this tool
Verify the vest date
Use the plan document or equity portal and confirm whether employment is required through the beginning or end of that day.
Enter only value actually at risk
Include the match, equity, bonus, or pension amount lost if employment ends before the date.
Compare pay over identical days
Enter annual cash compensation for both jobs and any written make-whole payment.
Negotiate from the break-even amount
Use the additional make-whole result as a starting point for a sign-on request or later start date.
Why plan rules matter
Employee retirement contributions are generally always vested, while employer contributions may follow a vesting schedule. Equity and bonus documents can define service dates differently. Confirm each amount before treating it as forfeited.
What the equity haircut does
Unvested public-company shares can change value before vesting. The haircut lets you reduce the current quoted value rather than treating it as guaranteed cash. It is not a forecast.
What is outside the result
- Future raises, promotion odds, and grants after the next vest date.
- Health coverage gaps, relocation, commute, and quality-of-life differences.
- Repayment clauses attached to signing bonuses or tuition benefits.
- The chance an offer expires if the start date moves.
Verify vesting, separation, bonus-payment, and equity-settlement terms with the plan administrator or employer documents. This is a compensation timing estimate, not tax, legal, or employment advice.
Sources and further reading
- IRS: Retirement Topics - Vesting — Overview of employee and employer contribution vesting.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay until my 401(k) match vests?
Compare the employer contribution you would keep with the extra pay and sign-on compensation available from leaving sooner. Then verify the exact service and termination rules in the plan document.
How much signing bonus should I ask for?
The additional make-whole result estimates the extra gross payment needed for the leave-now option to tie through the vest date.
Are RSUs worth their current market value?
Not with certainty. Shares can move before vesting, and taxes or trading restrictions can affect realizable value. Use the haircut input to stress-test the quote.
Does waiting always make sense when the result is positive?
No. The number covers a defined compensation window. Offer risk, career trajectory, workplace conditions, and personal timing can outweigh a modest modeled advantage.