Salary & Career Articles

For a typical middle-income earner ($50,000-$100,000), expect 20-30% to go to taxes. This includes federal income tax (10-24% marginal rate), FICA taxes (7.65% for Social Security and Medicare), and state income tax (0-13% depending on state). Your effective rate is usually lower than your marginal rate because income is taxed in brackets.

Research market rates on Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Levels.fyi before negotiating. Let the employer make the first offer when possible. Counter 10-20% above their initial offer with justification (skills, experience, market data). Negotiate total compensation, not just base salary—signing bonuses, equity, and benefits have value. Get everything in writing before accepting.

States with no income tax (Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Tennessee, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, New Hampshire) generally offer higher take-home pay. However, factor in cost of living—a $100K salary in Texas may equal $130K+ in New York after adjusting for housing and living costs. Our calculator shows net pay for all 50 states.

Compare cost-adjusted salaries, not just raw numbers. A $150K offer in San Francisco may provide less purchasing power than $100K in Austin. Consider: housing costs (often 40%+ of salary differences), state taxes, commute costs, and quality of life. Our Cost of Living Calculator shows equivalent salaries across cities.

Calculate total annual compensation: base salary + expected bonus (multiply target by historical payout rate) + equity value (consider vesting schedule and current stock price) + benefits value (health insurance, 401k match, PTO). A lower base with strong equity or benefits may be worth more than a higher base alone.