Job Offer Comparator Calculator
Compare two job offers side-by-side. See which is *really* better based on salary, benefits, PTO, health premiums, and commute.
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Enter your details and click Calculate.
Understanding Your "Real" Hourly Wage
Why Salary Isn't Everything
Comparing job offers based on salary alone can be misleading. A higher salary might come with higher taxes, costly health premiums, longer hours, or less vacation time. Your "Real" Hourly Wage provides the true picture by accounting for all these factors.
How This Calculator Works
This calculator determines your "Real" Hourly Wage for each job offer using these steps:
- Adjusted Net Pay: It starts with gross salary, subtracts taxes, adds 401k match, and subtracts annual health insurance premiums.
- Real Work Days: It subtracts your Paid Time Off (PTO) days from the standard 260 work days per year. This accurately reflects that you work less for the same salary with more PTO.
- Annual Hours & Costs: It calculates total hours spent (working + commuting) and total commute costs based only on your actual work days.
- The Final Calculation:
Real Wage = (Net Pay - Commute Costs) / Total Annual Hours
The Impact of Benefits
Often, the "hidden" numbers like health premiums and PTO make the biggest difference. A job with 5 extra vacation days effectively pays you more per hour worked, even if the salary is identical. Similarly, a $200/month difference in health premiums is equivalent to a $2,400 salary swing.
💡 Moving for the job?
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