Yep. That's how it is - and that's why I make a point of ignoring every number but the salary when evaluating a job offer.
This
Factor in inflation and buying power is even worse!
Aren't most stock compensations for tech workers done in dollar-valued equivalent at the time of vestment?
Nope, the valuation happens at the time of grant.
So you are granted a number of shares valued at $X. Then you can’t sell those shares until they vest, by which time they may have gained or lost value.
It will be interesting to see how this impacts areas with heavy presence of tech workers.