Job Offer Comparison: Which Offer Leaves You More?
Enter two offers to compare the monthly in-hand pay and the cash each leaves in the first year, after PF, income tax, variable pay, joining bonus and commuting. In our example, a ₹7.2 lakh offer with variable pay, a joining bonus and 2 office days leaves ₹65,080 more in the first year than an ₹8 lakh offer with 5 office days.
First year, after tax and commuting
—
| Per year | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|
| In hand a month (fixed pay) | ||
| Gross salary | ||
| Your PF | ||
| Professional tax | ||
| Variable pay expected | ||
| Joining bonus | ||
| Income tax on the year | ||
| Commute | ||
| First-year cash | ||
| A year without the joining bonus |
Income tax is for the whole year's income under the new regime for FY 2026-27, for a salaried person under 60 with no other income. Commute = office days × 52 weeks × cost a day.
Compare the old and new tax regimes in the salary calculator →
What the numbers don't show
- Growth: how often pay is reviewed, and where the role leads in two or three years.
- Notice period and joining-bonus terms: how long you must stay, and what you repay if you leave early.
- Location: travel time as well as travel cost, and the cost of living if you move.
- Learning: the team, the work and the skills you will pick up.
- Benefits outside the CTC: health insurance for your family, leave, and working hours.
Worked example: two offers compared
Offer A: ₹8 lakh fixed, no variable pay, 5 office days a week. Offer B: ₹7.2 lakh fixed, ₹80,000 variable pay expected at 80%, a ₹50,000 joining bonus, 2 office days. Both: ₹150 a day to commute, basic pay 40% of fixed CTC, PF of 12% of basic from both sides (inside the CTC), ₹2,400 professional tax, new tax regime.
| Per year | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed CTC a year | ₹8,00,000 | ₹7,20,000 |
| In hand a month (fixed pay) | ₹60,067 | ₹54,040 |
| Gross salary (fixed CTC less employer PF) | ₹7,61,600 | ₹6,85,440 |
| Your PF | −₹38,400 | −₹34,560 |
| Professional tax | −₹2,400 | −₹2,400 |
| Variable pay expected (80% of target) | ₹0 | +₹64,000 |
| Joining bonus | ₹0 | +₹50,000 |
| Income tax on the year | ₹0 | ₹0 |
| Commute (5 vs 2 days a week × 52 × ₹150) | −₹39,000 | −₹15,600 |
| First-year cash | ₹6,81,800 | ₹7,46,880 |
| A year without the joining bonus | ₹6,81,800 | ₹6,96,880 |
Offer B leaves ₹65,080 more in the first year. In a year without the joining bonus, Offer B leaves ₹15,080 more. Offer A pays more each month; Offer B's variable pay, joining bonus and fewer office days count against that.
How it's calculated
- Monthly in-hand pay comes from the fixed CTC alone, as in our salary calculator: the employer's PF comes out of the CTC, then your PF and professional tax, then income tax on the fixed pay.
- Expected variable pay = variable pay × expected payout ÷ 100.
- Income tax is worked out on the whole year's income: gross salary + expected variable pay + joining bonus, less the ₹75,000 standard deduction, at the new-regime slabs for FY 2026-27, with the Section 87A rebate up to ₹12 lakh of taxable income (and marginal relief above it) and 4% cess.
- Commute = office days a week × 52 weeks × cost a day.
- First-year cash = gross salary − your PF − professional tax + expected variable pay + joining bonus − income tax − commute.