A job offer evaluation calculator compares total compensation across multiple offers, revealing which is truly worth more. Base salary rarely tells the full story — bonuses, equity, 401(k) matches, health insurance premiums, and PTO days can shift the true value by tens of thousands of dollars annually.
A Offer A
B Offer B
5-Year Estimated Value
Compensation Breakdown
How to Evaluate a Job Offer Beyond the Salary Number
A job offer evaluation that stops at base salary misses the full picture. Total compensation includes every form of financial value the employer provides — and the gap between offers can easily exceed $30,000/year once all components are counted.
Step 1: Calculate Guaranteed Compensation
Start with base salary plus guaranteed bonus (if any). Some companies offer a target bonus of 10-20% that is genuinely paid out most years; others treat bonuses as discretionary and rarely reach the stated target. Ask whether the bonus is guaranteed, discretionary, or tied to individual versus company performance before including it at face value.
Step 2: Value Equity Carefully
Public company RSUs are straightforward — multiply your annual vesting amount by the current share price. Private company options require more scrutiny: what is the strike price, what is the current 409A valuation, and what are the liquidation preferences that may dilute your payout? A $50,000 RSU grant at a public company is worth far more than a $50,000 option grant at an early-stage startup on paper.
Step 3: Add Benefits Value
Health insurance is one of the most undervalued benefits. Individual health insurance on the open market costs $400-700/month ($4,800-8,400/year). If your employer pays most of that premium, it is real compensation. Similarly, a 401(k) match of 4% on a $100,000 salary is $4,000 of free money annually — equivalent to nearly a 4% raise with immediate 100% return.
Step 4: Factor in Hidden Costs
A higher-paying job that requires driving to an office 5 days/week may cost $3,000-6,000/year more in transportation than a remote role. PTO matters too: 15 paid days versus 20 paid days is a $3,800 difference on a $100,000 salary. Remote work flexibility, professional development budgets, and wellness stipends all have real dollar values worth including in your comparison.
Step 5: Think in 5-Year Windows
Job decisions compound over time. An extra $10,000/year totals $50,000 over five years — before accounting for investment returns or the salary leverage it creates for future raises. Equity with a 4-year vesting schedule only fully pays out if you stay. This calculator's 5-year view reveals which offer creates more wealth over a realistic tenure period.
FAQ
What should I include when comparing job offers?
Beyond base salary, compare annual bonus (as a percentage of base), equity or stock options (RSUs/options value), 401(k) employer match, health insurance value (employer-paid premiums), PTO days (valued at your daily rate), and remote work savings on commuting costs. Total compensation can differ by 20-40% from base salary alone.
How do I value equity or stock options in a job offer?
For public company RSUs, use the current stock price times vested shares per year. For private company options, use the most recent 409A valuation or funding round price as a conservative estimate. This calculator uses a simple annual equity value — remember that options have strike prices and private equity may never be liquid.
How much is a 401(k) match worth?
A common 401(k) match is 50% up to 6% of salary — meaning on a $100,000 salary, the employer contributes up to $3,000/year. A 100% match up to 4% would be worth $4,000/year. This is essentially free money with immediate 50-100% return, making it one of the most valuable benefits to compare.
How is PTO value calculated?
PTO value is calculated as (annual salary / 260 working days) × PTO days. For a $90,000 salary with 15 days PTO, that is ($90,000/260) × 15 = $5,192 in annual PTO value. As a freelancer or contractor, every vacation day is unpaid — this makes employer-paid PTO real compensation worth comparing.
Is this job offer calculator free?
Yes, completely free with no account required. All calculations run in your browser — your salary and compensation data is never sent to any server.
What is a good total compensation for my level?
Total compensation varies widely by industry, role, and location. Entry-level roles typically run $50-90K total comp, mid-level $90-150K, senior $150-250K, and staff or director level $250K+. Tech companies typically offer 20-40% above-market due to equity components. Use multiple offers as benchmarks against each other.