About the Job Offer Comparison Calculator
A higher salary is not always the better offer. This job offer comparison calculator puts two offers side by side and adjusts each one for the things that change what you actually keep: bonus, employer retirement match, other employer-paid perks, what you pay for health insurance, commuting costs and the cost of living where the job is.
It is built for anyone weighing a new job against their current one, choosing between two offers, or deciding whether a relocation raise is worth it. Besides the adjusted annual value, it shows an effective hourly rate that accounts for weekly hours and paid time off, so a 50-hour job with 10 days off can be compared fairly with a 40-hour job with 25.
Cost of living is entered as an index where 100 is your baseline — for example 120 for a city about 20% more expensive. Figures are before income tax; if the offers are in places with very different state or national taxes, compare their take-home pay with a paycheck calculator too.
How to use the job offer comparison calculator
- 1Enter base salary, expected bonus and retirement match for each offer.
- 2Add the yearly value of any other perks, such as stipends or stock.
- 3Enter what you would pay for health insurance and commuting in each job.
- 4Set a cost of living index for each location (100 = where you live now).
- 5Add weekly hours and paid days off, then compare the adjusted values and hourly rates.
Formula and method
Each offer’s total compensation adds base salary, expected bonus, the employer retirement contribution (salary × match rate) and the yearly value of other perks. Your own costs of taking the job — health insurance premiums and commuting — are then subtracted.
The result is divided by the cost-of-living index ÷ 100, so the same salary is worth less in a more expensive place. The adjusted hourly value divides by the hours you will actually work: weekly hours × working weeks, where paid days off are converted to weeks at five days each. The break-even figure solves for the base salary B would need to equal A’s adjusted value.
- Match%
- Employer retirement contribution as % of salary
- COL
- Cost of living index (100 = baseline)
- PTO
- Paid days off including public holidays
Worked examples
$85k local job vs $95k job in a pricier city
Offer A totals $93,400 with bonus and a 4% match, or $89,200 after $4,200 of premiums and commuting. Offer B totals $97,850 but $89,450 after $8,400 of costs, and dividing by a 120 cost-of-living index leaves $74,541.67. Offer A is worth about $14,658 more.
Same city, higher pay but longer hours
Offer B is worth $91,500 versus $81,000 a year, but it demands 50 hours a week over 49 working weeks (2,450 hours) against 40 hours over 47 weeks (1,880 hours). Per hour, offer A pays $43.09 and offer B only $37.35.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two job offers?+
Compare total compensation, not just salary: add bonus, retirement match and perks, subtract costs you bear such as health premiums and commuting, then adjust for cost of living and hours. Non-financial factors like growth, stability and culture matter too.
How much is a 401(k) match worth?+
A match is extra pay deposited into your retirement account. A 4% match on an $85,000 salary is worth $3,400 a year, but only if you contribute enough to receive it and stay long enough to vest.
How do I adjust salary for cost of living?+
Divide the salary by the destination’s cost-of-living index relative to your current city. If the new city is 20% more expensive (index 120), a $96,000 salary buys what $80,000 does now.
Should I include taxes when comparing offers?+
If both jobs are in the same tax jurisdiction, pre-tax comparison ranks them correctly. If one is in a state or country with much higher income tax, run each salary through a paycheck or income tax calculator and compare take-home pay.
How should I value stock options or RSUs?+
Enter the yearly vesting value of RSUs at today’s share price as a perk. Early-stage stock options are far less certain; many people value them at a steep discount or at zero when comparing offers.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.