Offer Comparison Calculator
Compare two job offers with tax-adjusted net take-home, 4-year total comp, break-even analysis, and visual charts. Includes base, bonus, equity, 401k match, state tax, and health premium.
4-year take-home: Offer A
$445,124
4-year take-home: Offer B
$530,532
Difference (A − B)
-$85,408
Break-even year
B always ahead
4-year total comp value (take-home + 401k match + equity vest)
Annual take-home by year
Cumulative take-home over 4 years
How Offer Comparison Works
Comparing job offers is more than comparing gross salaries. State taxes, equity vesting, 401k match, and health costs can shift the outcome. This calculator computes net take-home pay for each offer over 4 years using 2026 federal and state tax rates, FICA, and your filing status.
Equity is modeled as 4-year vesting (25% per year). Each year's vest is added to your taxable income. Use the equity growth option to simulate stock price appreciation. 401k match is included in total comp value (tax-deferred; not in take-home). Sign-on and relocation bonuses apply to year 1. Cost of living adjusts take-home by location (e.g. 90 = 10% cheaper area).
| Factor | Why It Matters | Included in Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | Core cash compensation; taxed as ordinary income | Yes |
| Bonus | Variable pay; may be taxed at supplemental rate | Yes |
| Equity (RSUs, stock) | 4-year vest; taxed at vest. High variance but significant value | Yes (4-year total) |
| 401k match | Free money; tax-deferred. Part of total comp | Yes (% of salary) |
| State | No-tax states (TX, FL, WA) vs high-tax (CA, NY) can swing $10k+ | Yes (all 50 + DC) |
| Health premium | Reduces take-home; employer subsidies vary | Yes (annual cost) |
| Sign-on bonus | One-time year 1; use for negotiation leverage | Yes (advanced) |
| Relocation | One-time; helps offset move costs | Yes (advanced) |
| State | State tax type | ~Annual state tax ($150k) |
|---|---|---|
| California | Progressive (up to 13.3%) | ~$10,500+ |
| New York | Progressive (up to 10.9%) | ~$9,000+ |
| New Jersey | Progressive (up to 10.75%) | ~$8,500+ |
| Colorado | Flat 4.4% | ~$6,600 |
| Texas | No state income tax | $0 |
| Florida | No state income tax | $0 |
| Washington | No state income tax | $0 |
| Nevada | No state income tax | $0 |
| Metric | Offer A (California) | Offer B (Texas) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross cash (base + bonus) | $165,000 | $165,000 | $0 |
| Equity 4-year | $80,000 | $80,000 | $0 |
| 401k match (6%) | $9,000 | $9,000 | $0 |
| ~Annual take-home (est.) | ~$98,000 | ~$108,000 | ~$10,000 (TX higher) |
| ~4-year take-home (est.) | ~$392,000 | ~$432,000 | ~$40,000 (TX higher) |
Tax impact
- State tax: 0% in TX/FL/WA vs 10%+ in CA/NY/NJ
- Filing status: Married joint typically has lower effective rate than single
- FICA: Social Security caps at $168,600 (2026); Medicare has no cap
Equity risk
- Use 0% growth for conservative comparison
- RSUs vest as ordinary income; tax at vest, not at grant
- Use our Equity Vesting Calculator for cliff and schedule details
Benefits
- 401k match: Free money; contributes to total comp even if not in take-home
- Health premium: Lower employer-subsidized cost = more take-home
- PTO, flexibility: Not in this calculator; factor separately
Cost of living
- $120k in Austin can buy more than $150k in San Francisco
- Use the cost-of-living field (100 = baseline) to adjust
- Compare cities with our Relocation Salary Calculator
For RSU tax at vest: RSU Tax Calculator
For equity vesting schedule: Equity Vesting Calculator
For 401k match impact: 401(k) Match Calculator
For relocation tax impact: Relocation Salary Calculator
• Factor in state tax: no-tax states (TX, FL, WA, etc.) often yield higher take-home.
• Equity is risky: use a growth rate of 0% for conservative comparisons.
• 401k match is free money: include it in total comp even if not in take-home.
• Cost of living: a lower salary in a cheaper area can beat a higher one elsewhere.