Job Offer Comparison
Compare two job offers considering salary, bonus, benefits, commute, and work-life balance to make the right career decision.
Enter Your Values
Using shared profile · 3,500/mo · EUR — edit on Dashboard
Results update automatically as you change values.
What-If Scenarios
Results update instantlyCost Breakdown
Compensation Breakdown
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Work-Life Balance Score
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Side-by-Side Comparison
Bars show relative size · ✓ marks the better option- Base Salary
- €3,500
- Bonus
- €5,000
- Benefits Value
- €8,000
- Total Comp (gross)
- €16,500
- Commute Cost/yr
- €1,872
- Net Comp (after commute)
- €14,628
- Eff. Hourly Rate
- €7.13
- Commute hrs/yr
- 234
- Remote Days/wk
- 2
- Leave Days
- 25
- WLB Score
- 110.5
- Base Salary
- €3,500
- Bonus
- €3,000
- Benefits Value
- €6,000
- Total Comp (gross)
- €12,500
- Commute Cost/yr
- €260
- Net Comp (after commute)
- €12,240
- Eff. Hourly Rate
- €5.94
- Commute hrs/yr
- 26
- Remote Days/wk
- 4
- Leave Days
- 30
- WLB Score
- 133.5
| Factor | Recommended Job A | Job B Most Flexible |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | €3,500 | €3,500 |
| Bonus | €5,000 | €3,000 |
| Benefits Value | €8,000 | €6,000 |
| Total Comp (gross) | €16,500 | €12,500 |
| Commute Cost/yr | €1,872 | €260 |
| Net Comp (after commute) | €14,628 | €12,240 |
| Eff. Hourly Rate | €7.13 | €5.94 |
| Commute hrs/yr | 234 | 26 |
| Remote Days/wk | 2 | 4 |
| Leave Days | 25 | 30 |
| WLB Score | 110.5 | 133.5 |
Job A pays €2388/year more after accounting for commute costs. Job B has better work-life balance (WLB score 134 vs 111). Job A has a higher effective hourly rate (€7.13/hr). Consider: Job B offers more remote days, which saves time and money. Commute costs of €1872/yr and 234 hours/yr are often overlooked.
Scenario Analysis
How the outcome shifts if your assumptions turn out better or worse than expected.
Full bonus + promotion in 2 years
At stated values, 5-year total
No bonus, laid off at year 2
Compare Scenarios
Pin up to 3 and see them side by sideSet your inputs, then Pin current to save this scenario. Pin a few variations to compare their scores and outcomes here.
What Moves the Needle Most
How much each factor changes your Job A: Total Comp across its full range. Job A Salary has the biggest impact.
Focus your attention on Job A Salary — getting it right matters most. Factors lower down move the result less, so rough estimates there are fine.
Confidence & Assumptions
The result swings widely between best and worst cases — it depends heavily on assumptions that are hard to predict.
Job A Net (5yr): €7,000 (worst) → €73,140 (expected) → €84,111 (best)
These are the estimates the result depends on. Adjust them (and the Advanced inputs) to match your real situation — the closer they are to reality, the more reliable your decision.
These estimates are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Actual results may vary based on factors not captured in this calculator.
How This Calculator Works
What this calculator does
This calculator compares two job offers by total compensation (salary + bonus + benefits) and effective hourly rate (accounting for commute time), plus a work-life balance score.
How the calculation works
Total compensation = salary + bonus + benefits. Effective hourly rate divides total comp by work hours including commute. Work-life balance score considers commute time and leave days.
Formula
Total Comp = Salary + Bonus + Benefits Eff. Hourly = Total Comp / (260 × (8 + commute hrs)) WLB Score = 100 - commute×5 + (leave-20)×2
Example
Job A: €65k+€5k+€8k = €78k, 1.5h commute, 25 days leave. Job B: €70k+€3k+€6k = €79k, 0.5h commute, 30 days leave. Job B wins on both comp and WLB.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your numbers
Fill in the inputs for Job Offer Comparison. Defaults are realistic starting points — replace them with your actual figures.
- 2Understand the calculation
Total compensation = salary + bonus + benefits. Effective hourly rate divides total comp by work hours including commute. Work-life balance score considers commute time and leave days.
- 3Review results and scenarios
Check metrics, cost breakdown, comparison tables, and best / expected / worst scenarios. Use sliders to stress-test assumptions.
- 4Decide with the verdict
Read the decision engine recommendation and FAQ. Example: Job A: €65k+€5k+€8k = €78k, 1.5h commute, 25 days leave. Job B: €70k+€3k+€6k = €79k, 0.5h commute, 30 days leave. Job B wins on both comp and WLB.
Factors to Consider
- Base salary is just one component — include bonus and benefits
- Commute time is unpaid — it reduces your effective hourly rate
- Career growth potential may outweigh a small salary difference
- Company culture and job security matter for long-term wellbeing
- Remote work options can save significant money and time
Common Mistakes
- Only comparing base salary, not total compensation
- Ignoring commute time and cost
- Not valuing benefits like health insurance and retirement matching
- Forgetting that a higher salary in a higher-cost city may mean less real income
- Underestimating the value of work-life balance
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I value benefits?+
Estimate the cost of health insurance, retirement matching, stock options, gym memberships, and other perks if you paid for them yourself. This is their value.
How much is commute time worth?+
Value commute time at your effective hourly rate. A 1-hour daily commute costs you ~€5,000-10,000/year in time, plus fuel and wear.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important financial decisions.
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