How to compare a job offer or raise
Headline base salary is only one piece. Add bonus, commission/OTE, and benefits cash, then adjust for cost of living, optional equity (usually haircut), and a rough tax buffer. This page is an educational estimator — not financial, tax, or legal advice.
Nine tools on this page
- Offer compare — current vs new cash packages and monthly/annual delta.
- Raise % — model a raise on base or total cash.
- COL / remote — location index + extra cost delta.
- Total delta — equity haircut + tax buffer + “keep X% more?”
- Salary → hourly — annual cash to equivalent hourly/day/week.
- Hourly → annual — rate × hours/week × weeks → year/month cash.
- Raise % — (target − current) ÷ current → percent raise.
- Compare % — (B − A) ÷ A → percent gap between offers.
- Total comp — base + bonus + other cash.
- Monthly diff — (B − A) ÷ 12.
Rules of thumb
- Compare apples-to-apples annual totals, not just base.
- If COL is higher, a “raise” can be a real cut in purchasing power.
- Unvested startup equity is not cash — haircut hard unless you have conviction.
- Tax buffers are rough; brackets, deductions, and state/country rules differ.
- Next decision after this: contractor vs W2 take-home (ContractLab when live).
Popular searches this tool answers
- Job offer comparison calculator
- Is this raise enough after COL
- Total compensation calculator equity haircut
- Old salary vs new offer monthly difference
- Effective raise percentage calculator free
FAQ
How do I compare two job offers?
Fill current and new base, bonus, OTE, and benefits. Check COL if locations differ, then Total delta for equity + tax buffer. Read annual and monthly deltas plus effective raise %.
What is an effective raise percentage?
Percent change in adjusted total comp after COL and buffers — not just the base salary bump on the letter.
Should I count equity at full value?
Usually no. Set Equity keep % (for example 25–50%) so risky or slow-vesting paper does not dominate cash reality.
Is this tax or financial advice?
No. Buffers are editable estimates only. Verify taxes, benefits, and equity terms with professionals and your paperwork.
Is my data private?
Yes. All math runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
Should equity count at full value?
Usually no for planning. Many people apply a haircut for vesting and risk. OfferLab lets you discount equity so cash and equity are not treated the same.
Is this financial or tax advice?
No. It is educational math only. Benefits, taxes, and equity vary widely — confirm with a professional for big decisions.
How should I treat a signing bonus?
Usually as one-time cash in year one, not permanent salary. Compare ongoing comp separately so a big sign-on does not hide a weaker base.
Does cost of living change which offer wins?
It can. A higher nominal salary in an expensive city may buy less. Use the COL/remote adjust fields to normalize offers before you decide.
Should I compare offers on monthly or annual cash?
Use both. Annual shows total package; monthly shows lifestyle cash. OfferLab surfaces each so a big bonus does not hide a weak monthly base.
How do remote offers change the COL adjustment?
If you keep living in a cheaper area, a remote high-city salary can win even if nominal peers look similar. Adjust COL toward where you actually spend.