How to compare two job offers
A higher hourly wage doesn't always mean higher earnings. Fewer hours, unpaid weeks, or the loss of regular overtime can make a "better-paying" job earn less overall. This calculator works out the total annual gross pay for each job and shows the difference.
For each job: annual pay = wage × hours × paid weeks + overtime rate × overtime hours × paid weeks + additional pay.
Example: Job A pays $26/hr for 40 hours, 52 weeks, with 5 overtime hours a week — $54,080 + $10,140 = $64,220. Job B pays $30/hr for 40 hours, 50 paid weeks, no overtime, plus a $2,000 bonus — $60,000 + $2,000 = $62,000. Despite the higher wage, Job B pays $2,220 less per year.
Beyond gross pay
Pay is only part of the picture. Also consider:
- Health insurance and how much of the premium you pay
- Retirement matching
- Paid time off and flexibility
- Commute time and costs
- Career growth and stability
To see what each job pays per paycheck after deductions, try the paycheck calculator.