Job Offer Comparison Calculator
Compare two job offers by real after-tax take-home pay.
About this calculator
A higher salary does not always mean more money in your pocket. Move an offer from a no-income-tax state like Texas to a high-tax state like California and a chunk of the raise disappears into state withholding — and prices in the destination may eat the rest. The only fair way to compare two offers is by what they're really worth: take-home pay, plus the value of your retirement contributions, adjusted for cost of living.
This calculator puts two offers head to head using the same 2025 federal, Social Security, Medicare and state tax model for your filing status. For each offer it adds your own 401(k) contribution and the employer's 401(k) match — free money that a headline salary hides — then, if you enable it, restates the second offer in the first offer's price level using BEA Regional Price Parities so you're comparing real purchasing power, not raw dollars.
The result is often counter-intuitive: a lower gross offer in a tax-friendly, lower-cost state can comfortably beat a higher gross offer somewhere expensive. Take-home and total value are the biggest factors, but weigh the softer ones too — equity upside, bonus reliability, benefits quality, career growth and commute — and remember city-level income taxes (like New York City) and the exact dollar value of benefits aren't modeled here.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two job offers in different states?
Compare them by total value, not gross salary: run each salary through federal, Social Security, Medicare and state tax for its state, add your 401(k) and the employer match, then adjust for cost of living. A lower gross offer in a low-tax, low-cost state can net more than a higher gross offer in an expensive one.
Does this include cost of living?
Yes. Turn on 'Adjust for cost of living' and the tool restates the second offer in the first offer's price level using BEA 2024 Regional Price Parities, so you compare real purchasing power. You can also turn it off to see raw dollars.
Does it account for the 401(k) match?
Yes. Enter your contribution percentage and the employer match percentage for each offer and the match is added to that offer's total value (capped at what you contribute), since it's guaranteed extra compensation.
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⚠️ Estimates compare after-tax pay and total value and are for general guidance only — not tax or career advice. City/local taxes and the dollar value of benefits are not modeled. Verify with the employer and a professional.