See what a job is really worth beyond the salary. Add bonus, equity vesting, 401(k) match, employer-paid health insurance, HSA money and other perks to get your total compensation, a breakdown chart and the effective hourly value of the hours you actually work.
Last updated:
Base pay
Paid by
$/ yr
$/ hr
h
Bonus & equity
$/ yr
$
Total grant value at today's price.
years
$/ yr
Retirement
% of pay
%
100% = dollar for dollar, 50% = 50 cents per dollar.
% of pay
% of pay
Benefits & time off
$/ yr
Employer share of premiums (often on your W-2 box 12, code DD).
$/ yr
$/ yr
Life & disability insurance, tuition, commuter, phone, wellness.
days
days
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Total Compensation Calculator
Enter your base pay as an annual salary or an hourly rate and weekly hours.
Add bonus and equity. Enter the full equity grant and its vesting period; it is spread evenly per year.
Fill in the 401(k) details: your contribution, the match rate and the match limit.
Add benefits and time off, using your benefits summary or the employer cost on your W-2.
Press Calculate total comp and compare offers using the total and the effective hourly value.
How total compensation is calculated
Total compensation = base pay + bonus + commission + equity per year + employer retirement contributions + employer-paid benefits.
Equity per year = grant value ÷ vesting years (+ ESPP discount or refreshers).
401(k) match = match rate × the smaller of your contribution or the matched percentage of pay.
Effective hourly value = total compensation ÷ hours actually worked (scheduled hours minus paid days off).
Example: $95,000 salary, 10% bonus ($9,500), a $40,000 RSU grant over 4 years ($10,000 a year), a dollar-for-dollar match on 4% ($3,800), $7,500 employer health premiums, a $500 HSA deposit and $1,200 of other benefits. Total compensation is $127,500, 34% above base. With 25 paid days off, the hours actually worked are 1,880, so the effective value is about $67.82 an hour versus $45.67 on base pay alone.
Typical value of common benefits
Benefit
How to value it
Where to find the number
401(k) / 403(b) match
Match rate × matched % × salary
Plan summary, offer letter
Health, dental, vision
Employer share of the premium per year
W-2 box 12 code DD minus your share
HSA or HRA deposit
Annual employer contribution
Benefits guide
RSUs
Grant value ÷ vesting years
Grant agreement, equity portal
ESPP
Discount (often 15%) × amount purchased
Plan documents
Life & disability insurance
Premium the employer pays
Benefits statement
Stipends
Annual total of phone, internet, commuter, learning allowances
HR policy
Tips for comparing offers
Always take the full match. Contributing below the matched percentage leaves free money unclaimed; the calculator flags it.
Discount uncertain pay. Bonuses, commission and private-company equity can be worth less than their target; consider a conservative scenario.
Check vesting cliffs. Many grants vest nothing in the first year, so leaving early forfeits that value.
Compare health plans, not just premiums. Deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums can be worth thousands of dollars a year.
Frequently asked questions
What is total compensation?
Total compensation is everything an employer provides in return for your work: base pay, bonuses, commissions, equity, retirement contributions, the employer share of health insurance and other benefits. It is usually 20% to 40% more than base salary for a job with full benefits.
How do I value stock options or RSUs?
For RSUs, divide the grant value by the vesting years to get a yearly figure, for example a $200,000 grant over 4 years is $50,000 a year. For options, use the spread (current price minus strike price) times the shares. The real value depends on the share price when shares vest, so treat it as an estimate.
How is the 401(k) match calculated?
Multiply the match rate by the smaller of your contribution or the match limit. With a 50% match on up to 6% of a $100,000 salary, contributing 6% ($6,000) earns a $3,000 match; contributing only 3% earns $1,500. Elective deferrals are capped at $24,500 in 2026 and pay above $360,000 is not counted.
Is paid time off part of total compensation?
PTO is valuable, but it is already included in your salary because you are paid for those days. This calculator shows its value separately and uses it to compute the effective hourly rate: the same pay spread over fewer hours actually worked means a higher hourly value.
Where can I find how much my employer pays for health insurance?
Look at box 12 of your W-2 with code DD, which shows the total cost of employer-sponsored health coverage (your share plus the employer's). Subtract what you paid through payroll deductions to get the employer portion. Your benefits portal or HR team can also tell you.
How do I compare two job offers?
Run each offer through the calculator and compare total compensation and effective hourly value. Also weigh risk (equity and bonus are not guaranteed), vesting schedules, commute time, cost of living and career growth, which do not show up in the numbers.
Should I include employer payroll taxes?
Include them if you want the employer's total cost of employing you, which matters for contractor versus employee comparisons. Employers pay 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500 (2026) and 1.45% Medicare on all wages. Leave them out for a view of what you personally receive.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.