Salary Comparison Calculator

Base salary is the starting point, not the whole picture. Two offers at identical salaries can have dramatically different total compensation values depending on benefits, location, hours, and tax treatment.

Factor 1: Take-Home Pay, Not Gross Salary

State income tax creates real differences between offers in different locations. A $75,000 salary in Florida (no income tax) puts roughly $5,500–$7,000 more in your pocket annually than the same salary in California or New York. Use the calculator above to enter both salaries with their respective states to see the after-tax comparison.

Factor 2: Benefits as Compensation

Benefits are compensation, not perks. Employer-paid health insurance is typically worth $7,000–$20,000 per year depending on coverage tier and family size. A 401(k) match of 4% on a $70,000 salary adds $2,800/year. Add it all up:

• Health insurance (employer-paid): $8,000–$20,000/year
• 401(k) match at 4%: $2,800 on $70k salary
• 20 days PTO vs 10 days: ~$1,900 difference on $70k/year (proportional daily rate)
• Remote vs. commute: Average commuter spends $2,000–$5,000/year on transportation

Factor 3: Effective Hourly Rate

An $85,000 job expecting 55 hours per week has an effective hourly rate of $29.72. A $70,000 job with a genuine 40-hour culture is $33.65/hour. The lower-salary job pays more per hour and gives you back 15 hours of your week.

Use the salary to hourly calculator to convert each offer to an effective hourly rate based on realistic expected hours.

Factor 4: Career Trajectory

Sometimes a lower-paying job at a faster-growing company or with better mentorship is worth more in 3–5 years than a higher-paying role with a ceiling. Salary now is only one data point. Raise cadence, promotion velocity, and skill development all compound.