How-To · 10 min
How to Compare Job Offers
Total compensation, take-home pay, equity, benefits, and quality of life — a structured framework for comparing two or three offers apples-to-apples.
Guides
Clear, trustworthy explanations to go with the calculators — salary negotiation, paycheck math, equity, and freelance economics.
How-To · 8 min
How to Calculate Freelance Rates
Reverse-engineer your hourly rate from a target take-home income, working backward through taxes, expenses, and realistic billable hours.
How-To · 8 min
How to Estimate Take-Home Pay
Five-step process: start with gross, subtract pre-tax deductions, apply federal/state/FICA — a step-by-step guide to estimating your real paycheck before HR sends the first one.
How-To · 6 min
How to Calculate Your Hourly Rate From Salary
Three formulas — quick, careful, and honest — for converting an annual salary into an hourly rate. Plus why the answer depends on what question you're asking.
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.
How-To · 7 min
How to Read Your Pay Stub
Federal, FICA, state, pre-tax, post-tax, YTD — every line on a pay stub decoded with a sample calculation.
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.