Base salary or bonus (job offer, percentage, profit, job)

[nitynity]

what you guys pick? Lower base salary with 10-15% annual bonus or higher base salary with 5% bonus?
I think I would go with high base salary since bonus is no guarentee though on doing the math higher bonus makes more money on year end. This is part of a negotiation on a new hire.
Please advice.

[joe from dayton]

Do you still make more money with the 10% bonus?

Can you pay your bills on the lower income while waiting for your bonus?

How will the bonus be paid, and how much will be eaten up by taxes?

I've never worked in a field that paid bonuses, so I think I would take the higher pay. If you can get by on lower pay, you can always stick the extra money in a CD or savings account and get a little interest out of the deal.

[johnp292]

Bonuses are rarely guaranteed.

[jaypee]

I think establishing/commanding a higher base salary is more beneficial for your career.
It's also guaranteed.

[nitynity]

Thanks guys. I agree they just don't want to commit to more money and make it purely based on company profit, performance etc.

[psurangers11]

Yeah this is a no brainer... higher pay with the smaller percentage.

I'd rather have more money coming in every 2 weeks then crossing my fingers year in and year out to get that bonus that's not guaranteed. Besides... that 10-15% really gets dwindled down by tax deductions... screw that.

[IonRedline08]

Bonuses (and raises) are the first things that get cut.. Never count on a bonus.

[-Valentino-]

Salary obviously.... guaranteed

[G-fused]

Another vote for salary.

[fms24]

Salary - I recently got a job offer where prior to the offer a salary range was discussed. Come to find out that once the offer came in, 16% of the "salary" was in quarterly bonuses which would put me at a lower salary than what I make now at my current job. Tough to accept that and move across the country for a lower salary when bonuses are not always guaranteed. I was not happy when I found this out.