MONEY REALITY · JOB OFFER COMPARATOR

Compare Offers on Total Comp, Not Just Salary

The $75K offer in Austin is not the same as the $90K offer in San Francisco. The $65K with 8% 401(k) match is not the same as the $72K with no match. This tool runs all three offers side-by-side on total economic value: salary + bonus + match + health + PTO + RSUs + commute + state-tax differential.

"Most candidates negotiate the salary number. The 401(k) match, the bonus structure, the equity grant, the relocation package — those are the lines they leave on the table."

Offer A

Company name

Base salary ($)

Target bonus (% of base)

Sign-on bonus ($)

401(k) match (% of base, max)

Health premium (your $/mo)

PTO days/year

RSU/equity grant ($/yr)

State tax rate (%)

Commute cost ($/mo)

Cost of living index

Offer B

Company name

Base salary ($)

Target bonus (% of base)

Sign-on bonus ($)

401(k) match (% of base, max)

Health premium (your $/mo)

PTO days/year

RSU/equity grant ($/yr)

State tax rate (%)

Commute cost ($/mo)

Cost of living index

Offer C (optional)

Company name

Base salary ($)

Target bonus (% of base)

Sign-on bonus ($)

401(k) match (% of base, max)

Health premium (your $/mo)

PTO days/year

RSU/equity grant ($/yr)

State tax rate (%)

Commute cost ($/mo)

Cost of living index

The honest comparison

The negotiation note: if Offer B wins on total comp but you'd rather take Offer A for non-financial reasons (team, mission, role) — go back to Offer A's recruiter with this analysis and ask for the gap to be closed. Most recruiters can move salary 5-15%, sign-on bonus 50-100%, and PTO 1-2 weeks if asked. The negotiation is the day you have the most leverage you'll ever have at that company; use it.

From the Money Reality First Job Edition. Ch 4 (First Salaried Paycheck) and Ch 8 (Employer 401(k) Match Capture) feed into this comparator. The full negotiation walkthrough — what to ask for, when to ask, when to walk — is in the Athletes' Wealth Playbook (transferable principles to any white-collar first-offer negotiation).

Illustrative only. PTO valued at salary / 240 working days. Cost of living index normalized at 100 = national average; 135 means cost of living is 35% higher (e.g. SF, NYC, Boston). State tax is flat-rate approximation. RSUs valued at face; real value depends on stock performance and vesting. Commute cost includes gas + parking + wear; for transit users, use monthly pass. Sign-on bonus often carries a 12-24 month clawback if you leave early. Not financial / career advice; consider intangibles too.