Affiliate marketing salaries: how to compare an offer

Base, bonus, rev-share and the questions that turn a headline number into a real package.

Compensation in performance marketing is rarely one number. Compare offers through guaranteed pay, variable mechanics, payout timing, currency risk and the cost of tools you may be expected to cover.

Ask for a worked bonus example using realistic performance. Clarify attribution windows, reversals, caps and whether targets can change mid-period. If the formula cannot be explained plainly, treat the variable portion as uncertain.

Compare scope as carefully as cash. Budget ownership, team support, creative resources and decision rights determine both stress and learning velocity. Record every assumption before accepting an offer.