USAJobs24Jobs straight from the employer
  1. Home
  2. Career guides
  3. Understanding a US job offer

Understanding a US job offer

By the USA Jobs 24 team · Updated November 1, 2026

A US offer is more than a salary. Benefits can add a large share on top of base pay, and the details differ a lot from one employer to the next. Here is what to look for.

Pay

  • Salary or hourly: salaried roles quote a yearly amount; hourly roles quote a rate per hour. A full-time year is about 2,080 hours.
  • Exempt or non-exempt: under federal law, non-exempt employees must be paid overtime, at least one and a half times their regular rate, for hours over 40 in a workweek. Exempt employees, usually salaried professionals, are not paid overtime.
  • Pay schedule: weekly, every two weeks or twice a month.

Bonus and equity

  • Bonus: check whether it is guaranteed or depends on company and personal performance, and what the target percentage is.
  • Equity: stock grants (RSUs) or options usually vest over several years, often with a one-year "cliff" before the first portion becomes yours. Leave before it vests and you lose the unvested part.
  • Sign-on bonus: read the fine print. Many must be paid back if you leave within a year.

Benefits

  • Health insurance: compare the monthly premium you pay, the deductible, and the out-of-pocket maximum, not just whether insurance is offered. Ask when coverage starts.
  • Retirement: a 401(k) lets you save from your paycheck before tax. Many employers add a "match" (for example, 50% of what you put in, up to 6% of pay). Check the vesting schedule for the employer's share.
  • Paid time off: no federal law requires paid vacation, so PTO varies widely. Some states and cities do require paid sick leave.
  • Other: dental and vision cover, life and disability insurance, parental leave, tuition help and commuter benefits.

At-will employment

Most US jobs are "at will": either you or the employer can end the job at any time, for any lawful reason, without notice. Montana is the main exception, where employers generally need good cause after a probation period. An offer letter is usually not a fixed-term contract, so read any clauses about notice, non-competes or repayment.

Contingencies and first-day paperwork

Offers are often contingent on a background check, reference check or drug test. An employer that uses a background-check company must get your written permission first. On or before your first day you will fill out Form I-9 to show you are authorized to work in the US, and Form W-4 to set your federal tax withholding.

Before you sign

Make sure the title, pay, start date, location or remote arrangement, and any bonus or equity are written down. If something you agreed on the phone is missing, ask for a corrected letter. Still deciding whether to push for more? Read how to negotiate your salary.

Openings you can apply for now

  • Supplier Commodity Manager

    Cisco

    Cisco Global Supplier Management (GSM) team is seeking a motivated Supplier Commodity Manager for Optics. You will be part of a highly impactful and dynamic organization collaborating with…

    • Austin, TX
    • Hybrid
    • 10+ yrs
    New

  • Product Manager, Atlassian Government Cloud

    Atlassian

    This role is part of a team shaping and delivering solutions to our US Public Sector customers, with a focus on scaling our Atlassian Government Cloud (FedRAMP Moderate) offering.

    • Seattle, WA
    • Remote
    New

  • Product Manager, Rovo

    Atlassian

    We are seeking a Product Manager with a passion for AI-powered conversational experiences and a track record of building intelligent, scalable SaaS products.

    • Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA
    • Remote
    • 3+ yrs
    New

  • Risk and Compliance Senior Manager

    Atlassian

    The Risk and Compliance Senior Manager at Atlassian will play a key role in driving the company's risk and compliance strategy across cloud and enterprise programs.

    • San Francisco, CA; Mountain View, CA
    • Remote
    • 7+ yrs
    New

  • Sales Enablement Specialist, DX

    Atlassian

    Build, maintain, and administer AE and SDR onboarding content, learning paths, schedules, checklists, and certifications

    • Salt Lake City, UT
    • Remote
    • 4+ yrs
    New

  • Senior Account Executive, Enterprise - East & Central

    Atlassian

    Develop and implement named Account or Territory plans geared at both maximizing expansion opportunities across a wide portfolio of products and ensuring a high bar of customer success.

    • New York, NY
    • Remote
    • 6+ yrs
    New