How to compare two job offers
Quick answer: To compare two job offers, enter each offer's base salary and country, add the bonus and say whether it's guaranteed, fill in the pension, add holiday, hours and the commute and read the ranking.
- Enter each offer's base salary and country. Pick the state for a US job, Scotland if you live there, or the Bundesland in Germany (church tax and the Saxony care rate depend on it).
- Add the bonus and say whether it's guaranteed. A bonus in the contract counts in full. A target bonus counts at the share you expect, 50% unless you change it, and the page shows your pay without it too.
- Fill in the pension. Your own contribution, then either a fixed employer percentage or a match. "100% up to 6%" means you need to pay in 6% yourself to get the full 6% from the employer.
- Add holiday, hours and the commute. Paid days off including public holidays, your weekly hours, office days a week and the return cost and time of one commute.
- Read the ranking. The real yearly value is take-home pay plus employer pension minus commuting. Open the breakdown under each offer to see every tax line.
Why the higher salary isn't always the better offer (CV or resume aside)
Tax takes a bigger share of each extra pound, euro or dollar, so a £4,000 pay rise can be worth much less after tax than a better pension match. Five office days instead of one can cost more than £3,000 a year in fares and over 150 hours of travelling. The comparison puts all of it in the same unit.
Legal minimum holiday
UK: 5.6 weeks a year, 28 days on a five-day week, and bank holidays can count towards it. Germany: 24 working days on a six-day week, 20 on a five-day week (§3 BUrlG), with public holidays on top. Netherlands: four times your weekly hours, so 20 days full time (art. 7:634 BW). US: no federal law requires paid holiday at all, so it's always worth negotiating.
What's simplified
Annual figures with the standard deduction or allowances, one earner, no children's allowances. UK pensions are taken before income tax but not National Insurance (net pay). Germany uses tax class I or III and the average health insurance top-up. US city and county taxes (New York City, Maryland counties and others) and state disability payroll taxes are not included. Where a US state hasn't published 2026 figures yet, the latest year is used and the breakdown says so.
Frequently asked questions
Which tax year does it use?
UK 2026/27 (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027), and 2026 for Germany, the Netherlands and US federal tax. A few US states hadn't published 2026 brackets when we checked, so their latest published year is used, and the breakdown says so. Every rate is from the official tax authority.
How is a 401(k) or pension match valued?
As money in your pension each year: for a 100% match up to 6% on $100,000, the employer adds $6,000 if you put in at least 6%. If you put in less, the match shrinks. It's counted at full value, although you can only use it later.
Can I compare a UK offer with one in Germany or the US?
Yes. Each offer is worked out in its own currency and tax system. Type in today's exchange rate and the offers are ranked in the first offer's currency. The page doesn't look up rates, so nothing is sent anywhere.
Is the take-home pay exact?
It's a close estimate for a single earner with a standard tax code or tax class, based on the year's official rates. Payslips spread tax over the months, so a bonus month can look different, and benefits in kind, salary sacrifice and tax-free allowances are not included.
Does it count the time I spend commuting?
Yes, in the value per hour: the commuting time on office days is added to your working hours. The fares come off the yearly value.