Learning & career · 290

Salary offer comparison

Which offer has the higher total compensation after recurring costs?

Your numbers

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Quick answer

What does the Salary offer comparison calculate?

Which offer has the higher total compensation after recurring costs? This calculator uses offer a salary, offer a bonus and benefits, offer a annual work costs, offer b salary, offer b bonus and benefits, and offer b annual work costs to estimate total annual offer value immediately in your browser.

With the values currently entered, the result is Offer Bhigher entered annual value. It also shows offer a net value, offer b net value, and difference.

How to use the Salary offer comparison

  1. Replace the example values with your own numbers.
  2. Review the result and supporting figures as they update automatically.
  3. Check the formula and assumptions before using the estimate for a decision.

Inputs used

  • Offer A salary
  • Offer A bonus and benefits
  • Offer A annual work costs
  • Offer B salary
  • Offer B bonus and benefits
  • Offer B annual work costs

Salary offer comparison formula

Salary + bonus and benefit value − recurring work costs for each offer

Assumptions

  • Bonus and benefit values are realistic user estimates.
  • Tax, risk, role quality, and career growth are excluded.

Practical guide

Salary offer comparison example and edge cases

Which offer has the higher total compensation after recurring costs? Let's use a concrete example, then look at the assumptions that can move the answer.

Example: A practical salary offer comparison scenario

For this example, use offer a salary of 85,000, offer a bonus and benefits of 15,000, offer a annual work costs of 7,000, offer b salary of 80,000, offer b bonus and benefits of 22,000, and offer b annual work costs of 3,500. These are starting values, so replace them with numbers that match your situation.

Offer A salary
85,000
Offer A bonus and benefits
15,000
Offer A annual work costs
7,000
Offer B salary
80,000
Offer B bonus and benefits
22,000
Offer B annual work costs
3,500

Calculated resultOffer Bhigher entered annual value

Start with higher entered annual value. Then check offer a net value, offer b net value, and difference to understand what sits behind the main result.

Example results use the default display profile. The calculator above follows your selected country and units.

How to read the result

  • Read the main result first. The supporting figures for offer a net value, offer b net value, and difference explain how the estimate is built.
  • The method is Salary + bonus and benefit value − recurring work costs for each offer. Keep the units consistent and use values from the same time period.

Edge cases worth checking

When offer a salary is unusual

Bonus and benefit values are realistic user estimates. Double-check this input before relying on the result.

When offer b annual work costs is uncertain

Tax, risk, role quality, and career growth are excluded. Run a lower and higher value to see a useful range.

What changes the result most

Offer A salary

Use a current amount for offer a salary. Include fees or recurring costs that belong in the same figure.

Offer A bonus and benefits

Use a current amount for offer a bonus and benefits. Include fees or recurring costs that belong in the same figure.

Offer A annual work costs

Use a current amount for offer a annual work costs. Include fees or recurring costs that belong in the same figure.

Try a different scenario

Small changes show whether the answer is stable or sensitive.

Offer A salary: 10% lower

76,500

Offer Bhigher entered annual value

Offer A salary: 10% higher

93,500

Offer Ahigher entered annual value

Offer A bonus and benefits: 10% higher

16,500

Offer Bhigher entered annual value

Common mistakes

Check offer a salary

Bonus and benefit values are realistic user estimates. Make sure this matches the number you enter.

Keep offer b annual work costs consistent

Tax, risk, role quality, and career growth are excluded. Use the same units and time period throughout the calculation.

Do not rely on one salary offer comparison scenario

Run a cautious case and an optimistic case. The range is often more useful than one exact-looking number.

Use this result well

Use it for

Which offer has the higher total compensation after recurring costs?

Do not use it as

It helps compare scenarios, but it cannot predict an offer, promotion, or career outcome.