Am I being underpaid?
You already suspect the answer. Let's put a number on it.
Example situation
“I'm a senior frontend engineer in Austin, TX. 6 years of experience, React/TypeScript. I make $135k base, no equity. My company just raised a Series B. I haven't gotten a raise in 18 months and my manager says 'budgets are tight.'”
Judgment —
Yes. You're underpaid by roughly $30–45k.
Reality —
Senior frontend in Austin with 6 years and a React/TS stack commands $160–180k base at post-Series-B companies. Your company raised — budgets aren't tight, priorities are. You're being told a story so they don't have to pay market rate. Every month you stay at $135k, you're subsidizing their runway with your salary. The 18-month raise gap isn't a freeze — it's a signal that they've already decided what you're worth to them.
Cost —
At $135k vs a market $170k, you're leaving $35k/year on the table — that's $2,900/month, $105k over 3 years before compounding. If they offered equity and didn't, the gap is wider. You're also anchoring your next negotiation to a low base. Future employers will ask what you make now, and $135k sets the ceiling.
Move:
Get two competing offers in the next 60 days. You don't need to leave — you need leverage. If your manager says budgets are tight when you have a signed offer for $170k, you'll learn whether you're valued or just convenient.
Real OneShot output — 1 input, 1 answer, no comfort