About This Tool

Finding the right job is hard enough. Figuring out if you should actually take it? Even harder.

I built this tool because I kept seeing the same thing happen: people in tech would get excited about a job offer, focus entirely on the salary number, and either jump at it or pass on it — without really understanding what that money means in a different city.

A $120k offer in San Francisco sounds amazing until you realize your rent just tripled. A $85k offer in Austin might actually leave you with more money in your pocket every month than you have now.

As someone who's worked in tech, I've watched colleagues agonize over these decisions for weeks, building complicated spreadsheets, asking everyone they know for advice, and still feeling uncertain. So I thought: why not make this simple?

This calculator takes 30 seconds and gives you a clear answer based on real market data. It covers five roles — Software Engineers, Project Managers, Product Managers, Data Analysts, and UX Designers — across 60 US cities. Salary benchmarks are anchored to Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data, not self-reported surveys. The methodology is transparent and documented on the How It Works page.

The verdict is straightforward: take it, negotiate, or pass — based on whether the offer clears market rate and whether your real purchasing power goes up or down after cost of living.

It's not perfect — no calculator can account for every personal factor — but it gives you a solid, honest starting point so you're not making a $50k mistake based on vibes.

The tool is free to use, always will be. Good luck with your decision.

Last updated: February 2026