Job offer comparison

Why the higher salary isn't always better

A $10,000 salary gap can easily be closed — or reversed — by differences in benefits, commute cost, and time. This calculator converts every component to annual dollar value so you're comparing honestly.

Commute cost uses the IRS standard mileage rate ($0.67/mile in 2026). But the bigger hidden cost is time — 312 extra commute hours per year at a $40/hr implied rate is $12,480 of lost life annually.

What this calculator doesn't include

• Career trajectory — a lower salary at a high-growth company can be worth far more than a higher salary in a dead-end role.
• Equity / stock options — add the expected annual value of equity grants to the base salary field.
• Remote flexibility — if one offer is fully remote, set commute to zero and factor in savings on lunches, clothes, and transportation.
• Culture and management — impossible to quantify, but often determines whether the role is sustainable long-term.