Zari vs Levels.fyi
Levels.fyi shows what you should be making. Zari coaches you through getting there. They're sequential — data first, then execution.
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Verified compensation data points in Levels.fyi database
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Average additional comp negotiated with data-backed strategy
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Of engineers don't negotiate equity grants — the most flexible component
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Equity grant size sometimes negotiable for senior hires
What Levels.fyi does exceptionally well
Total compensation benchmarking by company and level
Levels.fyi is the most accurate source of total compensation (base + bonus + equity) data for tech roles, particularly at FAANG and large tech companies. Crowd-sourced from verified offer letters, it shows real numbers at a granularity (L4, L5, L6 at Google; E4, E5 at Meta; SDE I/II/III at Amazon) that LinkedIn Salary, Glassdoor, and Payscale cannot match. For tech job seekers preparing to negotiate, Levels is the authoritative benchmark.
Equity component transparency
Levels.fyi breaks total compensation into base, annual bonus, and equity (RSUs/options) — with equity normalized to annual value. This matters enormously for tech negotiation because base and equity move independently, and the equity component at top companies often exceeds base. Knowing that L5 Google pays $280K base + $80K bonus + $200K equity/year (normalized) changes your negotiation strategy.
Level mapping across companies
One of Levels.fyi's most useful features is cross-company level equivalency. Knowing that you're equivalent to a Google L5, Meta E5, or Amazon SDE III lets you benchmark compensation at companies that don't use the same leveling framework. For candidates receiving offers from multiple companies at different nominal levels, this mapping is invaluable.
Offer comparison and college rankings
Levels.fyi's offer comparison tool lets you compare multiple offers on a normalized total compensation basis, accounting for equity vesting schedules, signing bonuses, and cost of living adjustments. Their college ranking by starting median compensation is a popular resource for students and new grads.
Where Zari fills the gaps Levels.fyi leaves
Levels.fyi gives you the target number. Here's what's still required to hit it.
What to do with the data
Levels.fyi tells you the number. It doesn't tell you how to get it. If your offer is $40K below the Levels.fyi median for your level and company, Zari coaches the exact conversation: how to anchor, what language to use, how to respond to 'this is our best offer,' and how to push on equity when base is constrained. Data without negotiation coaching is incomplete.
Resume optimization to get the right level
Leveling decisions significantly affect total compensation — the difference between L4 and L5 at Google is often $80-150K/year in total comp. Zari helps you frame your experience to land at the highest defensible level: what to emphasize in your resume, how to discuss scope in interviews, and how to make the business case for the higher level when an offer comes in lower than expected.
Interview preparation to get to the offer stage
Levels.fyi data is only relevant if you reach the offer. Zari helps you get there — mock behavioral interviews with STAR feedback, system design coaching for senior levels, and salary expectation scripting so you don't anchor too low during the phone screen (a mistake that can reduce your final offer before negotiation begins).
Negotiating beyond base — the full package
Most candidates know to negotiate base salary. Fewer know to negotiate the signing bonus (often more flexible than base), equity grant size (frequently negotiable up to 30%), equity cliff and vesting schedule (sometimes negotiable for senior hires), and relocation or remote work stipends. Zari covers the full package — using Levels.fyi benchmarks for each component.
The sequence: Levels.fyi → Zari
Before applying
Use Levels.fyi to benchmark total comp for your target company + level. Understand base, bonus, and equity ranges.
During phone screen
Use Zari's salary expectation scripting to avoid anchoring too low when asked about compensation early.
During interviews
Use Zari's interview coaching to position yourself for the highest defensible level — leveling affects comp more than negotiation.
At offer
Return to Levels.fyi to verify the offer against the benchmark, then use Zari to coach the negotiation conversation.
Counter and close
Zari simulates the back-and-forth: pushing on equity when base is firm, negotiating signing bonus, and handling 'this is our best offer.'
Common questions
Is Levels.fyi data accurate?
Yes — Levels.fyi is widely considered the most accurate public source of tech compensation data. Submissions are voluntarily crowd-sourced and the community actively flags inconsistencies. The data is most accurate for US-based FAANG roles (Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft) and major tech companies. Data is thinner for startups, non-US roles, and smaller companies. For benchmarking tech compensation in the US, it's significantly more accurate than Glassdoor or LinkedIn Salary.
Should I tell a company I've looked at their Levels.fyi data?
Yes, it's completely acceptable — and shows you've done market research. Phrasing like 'Based on Levels.fyi data for this level at your company, I was expecting the range to be X to Y' is normal in tech negotiations. Companies are aware of Levels.fyi and know candidates use it. What you should avoid: treating Levels as a non-negotiable floor ('I won't accept anything below the median') — this can make you seem inflexible, especially if your level or location affects the benchmark.
How do you use Levels.fyi and Zari together?
Levels.fyi → Zari is the right sequence. Use Levels.fyi before you receive an offer to understand the expected range for your target level, company, and location. When you receive an offer, bring the numbers into Zari — input your offer details and the Levels benchmark. Zari coaches you through the negotiation conversation: what to say when you counter, how to respond to pushback, and which package components to prioritize if base is constrained. Together, they cover the information and the execution.
Have the Levels.fyi data? Let Zari coach the negotiation.
Bring your offer details and the Levels benchmark to Zari — it coaches you through the full negotiation, from the initial counter to closing on equity and signing bonus.
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