Career & Work Calculator
Salary Comparison Calculator. Free online salary comparison calculator to compare job offers by base pay, bonus, benefits, and total compensation. Make smarter career move decisions today.
Specialist tool for Career1 documented formula13 real workflowsPrivate in your browser
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Inputs that matter
Current Salary, Current City COL Index, New City COL Index, New City Name
Output to expect
Salary Comparison Calculator
How it works
1 documented formula across 1 calculation mode
- Confirm that every value uses the unit and time basis shown before comparing scenarios.
- Change one input at a time to see which assumption materially changes the result.
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Reference & details
How it works
Updated July 2026
How it works
Updated July 2026Adjusted Cash Salary
Calculate the total direct annual cash compensation including bonuses, commissions, and non-discretionary stipends.
Total Cash Compensation = Base Salary + Projected BonusTotal Benefits Valuation
Subtract employer health premium contributions and add 401(k) matching and equity vesting valuations to the baseline.
Net Benefits Value = 401k Employer Match + Equity Vesting - Employee Health PremiumsCommute and Cost of Living Adjusted Value
Subtracts direct transit/fuel costs and scales the net package by local cost of living indexes to find true purchasing power.
Adjusted Compensation = (Total Cash + Net Benefits - Commute Cost) ÷ Cost of Living Index ratioUpdated: July 2026
Example Scenarios
Offer A offers $100K with low benefits; Offer B offers $90K but includes a 6% 401k match, 100% health premium coverage, and a remote option.
Offer A Base: $100,000Offer B Base: $90,000Offer B Match: 6.0%Commute Savings B: $3,000/year
→ Offer B is equivalent to ~$99,400 value, narrowing the gap to just $600 with less stress
Comparing a $120,000 job in Austin, TX (no state income tax) vs a $150,000 job in San Francisco, CA (high cost of living and tax).
Austin Salary: $120,000SF Salary: $150,000SF Cost of Living Index: 1.45
→ Adjusted Austin value: $120,000; SF value in Austin purchasing power: ~$103,450; Austin wins
Comparing a steady $85,000 corporate salary vs an independent contractor hourly rate of $60/hour with zero paid leave.
Salary Package: $85,000Contractor Rate: $60/hour (2,000 hours)Contractor SE Tax: ~$17,000
→ Contractor gross is $120,000, but net of taxes, self-funded health, and leave is ~$92,000
FAQ
Multiply your gross salary by the maximum percentage your employer matches, provided you contribute enough to secure the full match. For example, a 5% match on an $80,000 salary is worth $4,000 in free, tax-deferred compensation annually.
A COLI compares the cost of essential goods and services (housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, taxes) between two cities. A baseline of 100 is typical. If a destination city has a COLI of 130, you need 30% more income to maintain your current lifestyle.
States like Texas, Florida, and Washington have no state income tax, while states like California and New York have progressive state tax rates up to 13.3%. This can create a 5–10% difference in net, take-home pay on identical salaries.
About Salary Comparison Calculator
When evaluating job offers, comparing gross base salaries is not enough. This calculator performs a comprehensive assessment of two job offers, incorporating bonuses, medical premiums, retirement matching, commutes, cost of living, and tax differences.