Salary Comparison Calculator
Compare two job offers by total compensation and cost-of-living-adjusted value. Free salary comparison calculator, private and fast.
Independently verified for accuracy
Calculator by Toolsloft ↗- Offer A total comp
- $100,000
- Offer B total comp
- $88,000
- Offer A adjusted value
- $76,923.08
- Offer B adjusted value
- $88,000
- Better offer
- Offer B by $11,076.92
Weighing two job offers in different cities? This tool adds each base salary to the value of its benefits, then adjusts for the local cost of living so you compare what the money is really worth. Enter both offers to see which comes out ahead.
How this is calculated
It sums base salary and annual benefits value for each offer to get total compensation, then divides by the cost-of-living index (100 is the national baseline) to get adjusted value: total times 100 divided by the index. The offer with the higher adjusted value wins.
How to use
- Enter the base salary and annual benefits value for each offer.
- Enter the cost-of-living index for each location (100 is the national average).
- Read the adjusted value of each offer and which one comes out ahead.
Examples
- $100k total at index 130 vs $88k at index 100:
Offer B leads by $11,076.92 adjusted - $115k at index 150 vs $107k at index 110:
Offer B leads by $20,606.06 adjusted
FAQ
- What is a cost-of-living index?
- It is a number that compares how expensive a place is against a baseline of 100. An index of 130 means costs run about 30 percent above average, so a dollar there buys less. You can find city indexes from sources like a cost-of-living comparison site.
- What should I include in benefits value?
- Add the annual dollar value of anything beyond base pay: bonus, employer 401(k) match, the employer share of health premiums, and stock or equity you expect to vest that year.
- Does this account for taxes?
- No, it compares gross compensation adjusted for cost of living. State and local income taxes vary widely, so for a precise net comparison, run each offer through a paycheck or take-home calculator too.