Compare two to four jobs across gross compensation, time, work costs, transition costs, and the personal priorities you choose—without turning every trade-off into one artificial score.
Gross, before-tax valuesRuns in your browserNo data saved
This calculator provides estimates based solely on the values and assumptions you enter. Bonuses, commissions, employer contributions, benefits and equity may change and may depend on eligibility, vesting, plan rules and employer policies. Adjusted job value is not take-home pay and does not account for taxes or every personal expense. Personal priority scores are subjective. Results do not constitute financial, tax, legal or employment advice.
Guide
How to compare job offers beyond salary
Expected vs target compensation
Target compensation uses each plan’s stated variable-pay target. Expected compensation applies the attainment percentage you enter. Neither should be presented as guaranteed.
Recurring compensation vs Year 1 compensation
Signing and relocation payments can create a temporary Year 1 lead. Recurring compensation removes one-time cash so the ongoing package is visible.
Benefits and retirement match
Employer-paid insurance, HSA funding, and retirement contributions can materially change package value. Employee retirement contributions are shown only as context and are not employer compensation.
How equity vesting changes multi-year value
Equity is allocated by the custom vesting schedule, not the headline grant amount. Value outside the selected horizon is not pulled forward, and actual equity value may fall or become zero.
Why commute time and work costs matter
Office days drive commute time and daily travel costs. Childcare and recurring work expenses are modeled separately from compensation so you can see both gross package value and estimated costs.
How to compare PTO and working hours
Paid leave is already included in salary, so it is not added twice. It reduces estimated worked hours; unpaid extra hours, commute, and other work time increase total job time.
What adjusted job value means
Adjusted job value subtracts estimated out-of-pocket work costs and applicable transition costs from gross compensation. It combines different kinds of estimates and is not take-home pay.
Financial value vs personal priorities
Personal priority scores use only your factor weights and offer scores. They stay separate from dollars because flexibility, growth, interest, stability, team confidence, and work-life fit are subjective.
What the calculator does not include
It does not calculate taxes, take-home pay, stock-price changes, option strike prices, exercise costs, or automatic estimates for forfeited bonus or equity. Verify plan rules and offer terms independently.
Transparent math
Methodology
Annual compensation
Salary compounds by the entered increase. Active fixed cash, expected and target variable pay, one-time payments, employer retirement, benefits, and vested equity are calculated for each year.
Time and cost
Working weeks account for PTO and holidays. Office days determine commute time and daily costs. Recurring effective hourly metrics exclude one-time payments and transition costs.
Projection and baseline
Cumulative results sum annual values over one to five years. Differences and break-even status use the separately selected baseline offer.
Common questions
Job offer comparison FAQ
How should I compare two job offers?
Compare recurring and one-time cash, employer-paid benefits, retirement contributions, equity vesting, paid leave, time commitment, work costs, transition costs, and the personal priorities that matter to you. Keep uncertain assumptions separate from guaranteed amounts.
Is a signing bonus recurring compensation?
No. A signing bonus is included only in its payment year and is excluded from recurring compensation and recurring effective hourly values.
How should I value employer benefits?
Enter only the amount paid by the employer. Use plan or offer documents when available, and do not include employee payroll deductions as employer-provided value.
How does a 401(k) match affect an offer?
The calculator applies up to two sequential match tiers to eligible compensation and the employee contribution percentage you enter. It adds employer contributions but does not add the employee's own contribution to compensation.
How should I compare equity compensation?
Enter an estimated grant value and annual vesting schedule. Compare the value that vests within the same horizon, while recognizing that equity is uncertain and may become worth less or nothing.
Why does commute time affect hourly value?
Commute and other work-related time increase the total time committed to a job. Recurring compensation divided by that larger time commitment produces a lower effective hourly value.
Does adjusted job value mean take-home pay?
No. Adjusted job value subtracts estimated work and transition costs from gross compensation before taxes. It is not net income and does not estimate payroll withholding or tax liability.
How are transition costs handled?
User-entered transition costs apply only in the selected year and are shown separately from employer reimbursements. They affect adjusted job value but not recurring effective hourly values.
Can the highest salary still be the lower-value offer?
Yes. Bonuses, retirement contributions, employer-paid benefits, equity vesting, work costs, and time commitment can make the offer with the highest base salary lower on another metric.
Does this calculator include taxes?
No. All compensation results are gross, before taxes. The calculator does not estimate take-home pay.
