Job Offer Comparison Tool

When evaluating competing job offers, base salary is only one piece of the puzzle. Total compensation includes annual bonuses, stock options or RSUs, signing bonuses, 401(k) matching, health insurance value, and other monetary benefits. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, benefits can account for over 30% of total employee compensation in the United States, meaning two offers with identical salaries can differ by tens of thousands of dollars in actual value.

Equity compensation requires special attention. Stock options and RSUs at a publicly traded company have a clear market value, while equity at a private startup carries significant uncertainty. Evaluate the vesting schedule (typically four years with a one-year cliff), the company's funding stage, and realistic exit scenarios. The CareerOneStop resource from the U.S. Department of Labor provides tools for researching salary benchmarks and benefits across industries and regions.

Do not overlook non-monetary factors such as remote flexibility, commute time, PTO, work-life balance, and career growth potential. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that factors like learning opportunities and managerial quality have a stronger correlation with long-term career satisfaction than initial salary. A structured comparison that weighs all these dimensions — as this tool provides — helps you make a decision you will be confident in years from now.

Sources & Further Reading: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook · Harvard Business Review: Career Planning · CareerOneStop — U.S. Department of Labor