1. Take-home pay after tax
A bigger salary in a high-tax place can be worth much less than it looks. Single, with no deductions:
| Offer | Salary | Take-home a year | A month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, Texas | $130,000 | $100,121 | $8,343 |
| New York City | $165,000 | $108,791 | $9,066 |
The New York City offer pays 27% more, but you take home only $723 a month more, because New York State and New York City both tax your pay. A New York City salary of $150,111 would leave you exactly where you are in Texas: that’s the number to keep in mind when you negotiate.
The job offer calculator does this for any two salaries, states and cities, and shows which taxes make the difference.
How much more pay it takes to stand still depends on where the new job is:
$100,000 in Texas leaves $79,180 a year after tax. To take home the same, you’d need:
| Job in | Take-home on $100,000 | Salary to match | More pay needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $79,180 | $100,000 | – |
| Washington | $77,793 | $102,012 | 2.0% |
| Arizona | $77,083 | $103,092 | 3.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $76,040 | $104,673 | 4.7% |
| North Carolina | $75,699 | $105,247 | 5.2% |
| Colorado | $75,048 | $106,307 | 6.3% |
| Georgia | $74,939 | $106,490 | 6.5% |
| Illinois | $74,375 | $107,348 | 7.3% |
| New Jersey | $74,390 | $107,538 | 7.5% |
| Virginia | $74,244 | $107,641 | 7.6% |
| Massachusetts | $73,940 | $108,076 | 8.1% |
| New York, outside NYC | $73,877 | $108,239 | 8.2% |
| California | $72,969 | $110,395 | 10.4% |
| Philadelphia | $72,303 | $110,836 | 10.8% |
| Oregon | $71,332 | $113,319 | 13.3% |
| New York City | $70,702 | $114,065 | 14.1% |
2. What the employer adds
Pay is more than salary:
- 401(k) match: a 4% match on $165,000 is $6,600 a year. Check how long you need to stay before the match is yours (vesting).
- Health insurance: premiums, the deductible and the out-of-pocket maximum can differ by thousands of dollars a year between employers. A cheap premium with a $5,000 deductible may cost more than a pricier plan if you see the doctor often.
- HSA contributions: some employers put money into your HSA for you.
3. Bonus and equity
- A target bonus isn’t guaranteed. Ask what people in the role actually received last year.
- Stock or RSUs usually vest over four years. Count only what vests each year, and be cautious with private company equity.
- Bonuses are withheld at 22% federal tax, but they’re taxed like the rest of your pay in the end. See why your bonus is taxed at 22%.
4. Living costs
Once you know each offer’s take-home pay, take off what housing would cost in each place. Moving to a state with no income tax helps most when housing costs are similar.
5. Everything else
Paid time off, remote or hybrid work, commuting time and costs, job security and the career step itself. A slightly lower offer with a much shorter commute can be the better deal.
Negotiating
- Get the offer in writing, with salary, bonus, equity and start date, before you resign.
- Use the take-home figure. If a move costs you tax, ask for a salary that at least matches what you keep now.
- Ask about what you’d leave behind: a sign-on bonus can make up for a bonus or unvested 401(k) match you’d lose by leaving.
- Ask about relocation help if you’re moving. It’s usually taxed as pay, so check what you’d keep.
- Negotiate more than salary: extra paid time off, remote days or a review after six months can be easier for an employer to agree.
A quick checklist
| Compare | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay a month | ||
| 401(k) match, a year | ||
| Health insurance cost | ||
| Bonus (realistic) and equity vesting this year | ||
| Rent or mortgage | ||
| Paid time off | ||
| Commute |
See your own numbers
The job offer calculator compares two offers after tax in seconds, with bonuses and 401(k) matches. The paycheck calculator shows each paycheck in detail, including health premiums and HSA contributions.