Higher base salary doesn't always mean the higher-value offer.
Compare two offers side by side across base pay, bonus, risk-adjusted equity, PTO value, 401k match, healthcare, remote savings, and commute cost.
Zero commute + $7K remote value + $7.2K health covered
No 401k match + $4.2K commute drag + back-loaded vest
Caught immediately by full-comp normalization
11-Factor Offer Comparison Workstation
Enter your two offers below or load a sample comparison to see how equity risk, PTO, benefits, and commute shift true annual value.
How the 11-Factor Score Works
Beyond Base Salary
Base salary often misses 25–40% of real compensation. Bonuses are annualized by frequency and signing bonuses are amortized over 4 years so year-one spikes don't distort your comparison.
Vesting & Stage Discounts
A $25K public RSU grant with a 1-year cliff isn't equal to $25K in early-stage startup options. We weight equity by vesting schedule and company stage risk (100% down to 50%).
PTO, Benefits & Commute
PTO days are priced at your daily rate, 401k match and health coverage add direct tax-free value, and monthly commute expenses are subtracted as a real annual cost.
Common Questions
How is the total value score calculated?
The score sums base salary, all bonus payments annualized by frequency, signing bonus amortized over 4 years, equity adjusted for vesting risk, PTO value at your daily rate, 401k match, health insurance savings, remote work value, minus annual commute costs, plus a career growth and work-life balance weighting.
How does the equity vest schedule affect the score?
Equity is discounted based on vesting risk. A 1-year cliff grant is valued at 100%. A standard 4-year vest is discounted to 85%. A 5-year back-loaded schedule is discounted to 70%. Pre-Series B startup equity is discounted to 50% to reflect dilution and exit uncertainty.
Why is the signing bonus divided by 4 years?
Signing bonuses are one-time payments. Amortizing over 4 years prevents them from artificially inflating year-one comparisons and reflects the true multi-year value.
How is monthly commute cost calculated?
Enter your estimated monthly commute cost including gas, transit, or parking. This is multiplied by 12 and subtracted from total value. A $300/mo commute costs $3,600/yr — the same as losing a $3,600 raise.
Should I always take the higher scoring offer?
The score is a starting point, not a final answer. It does not capture manager quality, team culture, job security, or company trajectory. Use it to make sure you are not leaving significant money on the table, then weigh the qualitative factors separately.
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