Is this job offer worth it?
Two offers rarely compare the way the salaries suggest. See what each is really worth after tax and commute, then decide.
In short
Updated for tax year 2026 · June 2026A bigger salary offer can leave you with less once state tax and the commute come out. The honest comparison is take-home after commute, not gross pay. A 95,000 dollar offer in a high-tax state with a long drive can trail an 88,000 dollar job you already hold. Compare what actually lands in your account.
Common questions
Should I take the job with the higher salary?⌄
Not automatically. Compare take-home after state tax and commute, not gross salary. A higher gross can leave you with less once a high-tax state and a long commute are counted.
How do you compare two job offers fairly?⌄
Run each offer through take-home pay for its state and filing status, subtract the commute cost, and compare what lands in your account. We lead with that dollar figure, then weigh commute time as a separate quality-of-life factor.
Does a longer commute really change which job is better?⌄
It can. Commute cost comes straight out of take-home, and the hours are a real cost on top. When two offers are close on pay, the commute often decides it.
Built and reviewed by the EverydayBudd editorial team. Every figure on this page is reproduced in automated tests against published IRS data before it ships, and the tax figures use 2026 brackets and limits.