Is there a scale somewhere where I could calculate the expected percentage a very good negotiator with appropriate leverage would be able to extract in the best-case scenario, based on employee # and some metric of value-add?
For example, if market is $125k, and you're making $100k + 0.2% of a company worth $100M, that's:
Equity is worth 200k over 4 years, or 50k/year. (40% of market salary.)
-20 (paycut) + 40 = 20
Below 0: Fucking awful. They don't respect you. Leave.
0 to 25: Mediocre, not interesting. OK for an otherwise attractive job.
25 to 60: Substantial but probably not life-changing equity. Typical for good contributors.
60 to 200: Real equity. They want you. They care if you work there.
200+: Founder-level.