Guide · 8 min
Salary vs Hourly: Pros and Cons
Salaried jobs feel stable, hourly jobs offer overtime — but which actually pays more? A real comparison of the two compensation structures.
Guides
Clear, trustworthy explanations to go with the calculators — salary negotiation, paycheck math, equity, and freelance economics.
Guide · 10 min
Take-Home Pay: Everything You Need to Know
Federal, state, FICA, pre-tax deductions — a full breakdown of why your paycheck is smaller than your salary and what each line means.
Guide · 12 min
The Complete Salary Negotiation Guide for 2026
A complete playbook for negotiating salary in 2026 — research, scripts, timing, and the numbers that matter, written for U.S. workers.
Guide · 12 min
Equity Compensation 101 for Tech Workers
Stock options, RSUs, ESPPs, and the four-year cliff — what every tech employee should understand about equity before signing.
Guide · 7 min
PTO Cash-Out: How Much Is It Worth?
Unused PTO at separation often pays out at your regular wage, but the tax treatment (supplemental) can shave a chunk. How to value PTO before you accept or quit.
Guide · 11 min
Pay Transparency Laws: State by State
California, New York, Colorado, Washington and 8 more states now require salary ranges in job postings. A guide to where the laws exist and how to use them.
Guide · 8 min
Sign-On Bonus: Tax and Negotiation
Sign-on bonuses are easier to negotiate than base salary and often have clawback clauses. The full mechanics of how they work and what to ask for.
Guide · 9 min
Severance Packages: What to Expect
One week per year of service is a common starting point — but severance is negotiable, and the tax treatment can surprise you.
Guide · 8 min
How to Calculate Your Real Hourly Wage
Your salary divided by 2,080 hours misses unpaid work, commute time, and benefits costs. The honest formula for what your time actually earns.
Guide · 9 min
Remote Work and Salary Adjustments
Tech companies tied pay to ZIP codes during the pandemic and many still do. How location-based pay works, and what your real net salary becomes when you relocate.
Guide · 8 min
How Bonuses Are Taxed in the U.S.
That "lost half my bonus to taxes" feeling is real — but mostly because of withholding, not actual tax owed. Here's what happens to a bonus and why.
Guide · 11 min
Stock Options vs RSUs: Compensation Decoded
ISOs, NSOs, RSUs — three letters that can mean tens of thousands in tax. A plain-English breakdown of how each works for U.S. employees.