Two Offers. Which One Actually Pays More?
Compare job offers by monthly in-hand and real year-1 value, after tax, PF, variable payout and ESOP risk. Not by CTC.
Showing example numbers — replace them with your offers.
One-time
Value vesting per year
One-time
Value vesting per year
Your current CTC & salary-structure assumptions (optional)
Shows your hike on each offer
40–50% is typical
~₹200/month in most states
Verdict · year 1
Offer B is worth ₹4.00L more to you in year 1.
| Offer A | Offer B ✓ | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline CTCWhat the offer letter says | ₹20.00L | ₹26.00L |
| Monthly in-handFixed pay, after tax + PF | ₹1,22,045 | ₹1,27,801 |
| Year-1 cash in bankIncl. expected variable + joining bonus | ₹15.91L | ₹19.05L |
| Year-1 real valueCash + PF + gratuity + counted equity | ₹17.99L | ₹21.99L |
| Income tax, year 1New tax regime, Budget 2025 slabs (FY 2025-26) | ₹1.59L | ₹2.54L |
- 💡 Offer B's headline CTC is ₹6.00L higher, but its monthly in-hand is only ₹5,756 more than Offer A.
- 💡 Offer B's ₹2.00L joining bonus is year-1 only — check for a clawback clause if you leave within 12 months.
Estimate using New tax regime, Budget 2025 slabs (FY 2025-26), standard deduction and 87A rebate. Your actual payslip depends on your company's exact salary structure.
Your best offer pays ₹1,27,801/month in-hand. Could a third offer beat it?
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Two offer letters with the same CTC can differ by ₹15,000 or more a month in actual take-home. One puts more into fixed pay, the other leans on a variable component that's rarely paid in full, a joining bonus that disappears in year two, or startup ESOPs that may never be liquid. This calculator breaks each offer into the parts that matter and compares them the way your bank account will.
Compare offers the way your bank account will
In-hand, not CTC
Tax, PF, gratuity and professional tax are taken out, so you see the number that actually hits your account every month.
Variable & ESOPs at their real odds
Set how much variable you expect to be paid and how much equity to count, instead of trusting the headline number.
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Find My Next Offer — FreeFrequently asked questions
How do I compare two job offers with different CTC structures?
Don't compare headline CTC. Break each offer into fixed pay, variable pay, one-time bonuses and equity, then compare what actually reaches your bank account. Monthly in-hand comes from fixed pay after income tax, provident fund and professional tax. Year-1 value adds the variable you realistically expect to receive, any joining bonus, PF (which is your money, just locked) and whatever share of the equity you're willing to count.
Why is my in-hand salary so much lower than my CTC?
CTC includes money you never see on your monthly payslip: employer PF contribution, gratuity accrual, variable pay that's paid quarterly or yearly (and often not at 100%), and sometimes ESOPs or insurance. Income tax, your own PF contribution and professional tax are then deducted from what's left. With a 40% basic and standard 12% PF, a ₹20 LPA fixed offer comes to roughly ₹1.33 lakh a month in-hand under the new regime, about 80% of fixed CTC divided by 12, and the percentage drops as pay rises.
How much should I value ESOPs when comparing offers?
It depends on how liquid they are. RSUs at a listed company can be sold once they vest, so counting them close to full value is reasonable. ESOPs at a private startup are only worth something if there's a buyback, secondary sale or IPO, and you usually pay an exercise price plus tax at exercise. That's why this calculator lets you count startup ESOPs at 50%, 25% or 0% instead of assuming the number in the offer letter.
Is variable pay guaranteed?
Usually not. Variable or performance bonus is typically tied to individual and company performance, and payouts below 100% are common. Ask the hiring manager or HR what the actual average payout was for your team over the last two years, and use that percentage in the calculator.
Which tax regime does this offer calculator use?
The new tax regime with the slabs announced in Budget 2025 (FY 2025-26): nil up to ₹4 lakh, then 5% to 30%, with a ₹75,000 standard deduction, the Section 87A rebate up to ₹12 lakh taxable income, surcharge above ₹50 lakh, and 4% cess. It's an estimate. Your company's salary structure and any deductions you claim will change the exact payslip number.
Should I use a competing offer to negotiate?
Yes, if it's real. A written competing offer is the single strongest piece of leverage in a salary negotiation. Share the specific in-hand or CTC number you'd need to accept, not the whole offer letter, and be ready to walk away if the other side can't match. Having more than one live offer is the easiest way to be in that position.