Compare two job offers beyond salary
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Compare take-home pay, pension value, working hours and regular costs separately. They answer different questions.
Compare spendable pay first
Enter both salaries in the take-home calculator with the same tax region and student loan plan. Then change the pension settings to match each offer. Treat uncertain bonuses separately from guaranteed salary, and check the actual pension calculation basis with the employer.
An independent example
For 2026/27 in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, £30,000 salary with a standard personal allowance, no pension and no student loan gives £3,486 Income Tax and £1,394.40 employee National Insurance: £25,119.60 net a year. At £35,000, tax is £4,486 and NI £1,794.40: £28,719.60 net. The £5,000 gross increase therefore adds £3,600 a year, or £300 a month, under these assumptions. Payroll rounding and tax codes can change payslips.
Give costs and time their own line
If the new role adds £100 a month of travel, the example’s additional spendable cash falls from £300 to £200. If contracted hours rise from 35 to 40, compare the annual package per contracted hour as well. Pension contributions are valuable but are not the same as cash available this month.
Try a less favourable scenario
Compare without the bonus, with the expected commute and with the pension you intend to choose. Use pro-rata pay for reduced hours or required salary to work back from a monthly target. This example excludes benefits in kind, other income and concurrent student loan plans.