Let me tell you something most hiring managers find out too late. Your comp package might be the reason you keep losing top AI and Data candidates.
And by the time you realize it the right person has already accepted an offer somewhere else.
Senior Candidates Know Their Worth
Senior AI and Data professionals know exactly what they are worth. They track the market. They talk to other professionals in their network. And when an offer comes in below their expectations they do not negotiate aggressively. They walk.
This is not arrogance. It is self awareness. The best candidates in this space have options and they know it. If your offer does not reflect that reality it sends a signal that your organization does not either.
The Internal Pay Band Problem
The most common mistake I see is companies building comp structures based on internal pay bands that have not kept up with the market. What was competitive two years ago for a Data Scientist, Analytics leader, or Machine Learning Engineer is not competitive today.
The AI and Data talent market has moved fast. Compensation expectations have moved with it. If your internal benchmarks are lagging behind you are walking into every offer conversation already at a disadvantage.
It Is More Than Just Base Salary
Top candidates are not just evaluating base salary. They are looking at the full package. Bonus structure, equity or long term incentives, flexibility and remote options, growth trajectory, and how the role is positioned and valued within the organization.
A strong base with no upside or no flexibility will lose to a slightly lower base with a compelling growth story and a hybrid work arrangement. Understanding what matters most to each specific candidate is part of what makes the difference between a yes and a no.
What You Can Do About It
Before you start a search get a real market read on what you will need to pay to attract the right person. Not what your internal bands say. What the market actually demands for this specific skill set, seniority level, and location.
At SUD we advise every client on current market compensation before the search even starts. We help you build an offer that is competitive, compelling, and structured to close. Because the last thing you want is to find the right person and lose them over a comp package that missed the mark.
I’m Sunil from SUD Recruiting. The human behind AI and Data hiring.