Nov 27, 2025
The 2025 NYC Startup Jobs Salary Benchmark Report
The 2025 NYC Startup Jobs Salary Benchmark Report
The NYC startup ecosystem continues to thrive in 2025, offering competitive salaries and equity packages to attract top talent. This report analyzes real job postings from startupjobs.nyc to provide actionable insights into compensation trends for engineering, product, design, sales, marketing, operations, and growth roles.
Key Findings:
Median salaries in NYC startups range from $95K–$185K depending on role and experience.
Engineering roles command the highest salaries, with senior engineers averaging $165K–$185K base.
Equity offers remain meaningful: 0.5%–2% for early-career roles, 2%–5% for senior positions.
65% of roles offer hybrid or remote options.
Series B startups pay 12% more than seed-stage startups.
Early- to mid-level salaries grew 8% year-over-year.
Salary Benchmarks by Role
Engineering Roles
Median Base Salary: $165,000
Junior/Early-Career: $110K–$135K
Mid-Level: $140K–$170K
Senior: $165K–$200K
Staff/Principal: $200K–$250K+
Trend: ML/AI engineers and fullstack roles command 15–25% premiums. Signing bonuses of 10–20% are common at Series B+ startups.
Equity: 0.75%–2.5% (early), 1.5%–4% (senior)
Product Management
Median Base Salary: $145,000
Associate PM: $105K–$130K
PM: $135K–$165K
Senior PM: $160K–$195K
Director of Product: $190K–$240K
Trend: Experienced PMs are in high demand, especially in scaling startups.
Equity: 0.5%–2% (entry), 1.5%–3.5% (senior)
Signing Bonus: ~15% of base
Sales, Marketing & Growth
Median Sales Base: $125,000 + commission
Marketing Median: $115,000
Growth Median: $130,000
Trend: Sales roles offer the highest total comp upside; marketing and growth remain competitive for digital-first talent.
Design & Operations
Design Median: $125,000
Operations Median: $105,000
Trend: Design salaries up 10% YoY; operations roles remain stable with modest equity.
Compensation by Company Stage
Stage | Base Salary | Equity | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
Seed ($1M–$5M) | $95K–$115K | 0.75%–2% | $120K–$150K |
Series A ($5M–$20M) | $115K–$135K | 0.5%–1.5% | $145K–$170K |
Series B ($20M–$75M) | $135K–$160K | 0.4%–1.2% | $170K–$205K |
Series C+ ($75M+) | $155K–$185K | 0.2%–0.8% | $185K–$225K |
Insight: Early-stage startups compete on equity; Series B+ emphasize base salary and benefits.
Location & Remote Trends
NYC HQ Roles: 35% of postings, base salaries at market rate
Remote Roles: 42%, salaries slightly lower (-8% to -12%)
Hybrid Roles: 23%, NYC-market rate with 2–3 days/week onsite
Key Trends in 2025
Engineering Shortage Drives Salaries Up – 8–12% YoY growth.
Product Management Remains Competitive – Series B+ aggressively recruiting senior PMs.
Sales Roles Offer High Total Comp – Commission-heavy roles can exceed $300K.
Design Salaries Rising – 10% YoY increase, more equity.
Equity Still Meaningful – Early employees get 1–3%; later-stage hires smaller grants.
Benefits Standardization – Health, 401(k), PTO, wellness stipends, home office.
Signing Bonuses Return – 10–20% for senior technical and sales hires.
How to Find NYC Startup Roles Faster
Beyond online applications, networking in NYC startup communities can dramatically improve your chances of finding the right role. Communities like NYC B2B bring together 10,000+ founders, operators, and VCs, offering:
Access to in-person startup events in NYC
Early visibility on job opportunities before they’re publicly posted
Connection to resources, deal flow, and insider insights
Many hires at NYC startups happen through personal connections and referrals, so participating in events can give you a competitive edge.
Negotiation Tips
Job Seekers:
Anchor high and bundle total comp (salary, equity, PTO).
Leverage competing offers.
Ask about equity refresh grants.
Employers:
Post salary ranges to attract more applicants.
Be transparent about equity and company trajectory.
Match market rates to retain top talent.
Conclusion
The 2025 NYC startup job market is competitive, with top salaries in engineering and product roles, high commission upside in sales, and meaningful equity for early hires. Networking, leveraging communities like NYC B2B, and understanding salary benchmarks are key to landing your next startup role.
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