Two offers or two rates
Compare Salaries
Compare two salaries or two paychecks. Enter the current amount on the left and the new figure on the right. The calculator estimates take-home on each side with the same tax model, then states the difference on those checks and over a full year.
Difference in estimated take-home
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How the calculator figures the estimate
Each side is converted to annual gross pay, then run through the same 2026 FICA rates and the federal and state percentages entered for that side. The headline figure is Pay B’s estimated annual take-home minus Pay A’s. The per-paycheck difference uses each side’s own frequency, so two jobs paid on different schedules should be judged first by the annual line.
Common questions
Should I compare two checks or two yearly totals?
If the frequencies differ, trust the annual difference. A monthly check and a biweekly check are different slices of the year. The yearly line keeps the comparison honest.
Can I compare a current rate with a job offer?
Yes. Put the current amount on Pay A and the offer on Pay B. Enter the federal percentage you expect on each side if the tax situation would change.
Why is this not a cost-of-living tool?
The calculator compares pay and the tax percentages you type. It does not price housing, groceries, or city taxes. Those belong in a separate budget, not in this difference.
Why is this not my pay stub?
Neither column is payroll. Both use published FICA rates and the income-tax percentages you enter.
Does pre-tax on one side change FICA on that side?
No. In this model a 401(k)-style amount lowers only that side’s income-tax base. FICA still uses that side’s full annualized gross.