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Don't Accept a Job Offer Without Knowing Your Real Take-Home Pay
Every salary is different after taxes. Use these tools to see what your offer is really worth.
Gross salary is not what lands in your bank account. State taxes, filing status, benefits, and pre-tax deductions change the real value of every offer.
The Offer vs Reality Gap
A $120,000 offer in New York does not always beat $110,000 in Austin after taxes. Here is a single-filer, biweekly example using 2026 withholding tables:
| Offer | Gross | Annual take-home |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $120,000 | $86,580 |
| Texas (Austin) | $110,000 | $86,215 |
Calculators for Job Seekers
Research Guides
Key Tax Facts for Job Seekers
Does moving to Texas really save money?
Often yes. Texas has no state income tax, so more of your paycheck stays with you. On a $100,000 salary, many workers keep roughly $5,000–$8,000 more per year than in high-tax states like California, depending on filing status and local taxes.
How does filing status affect my offer?
Filing status changes federal brackets and withholding. Married filing jointly usually lowers withholding versus single at the same gross pay, while head of household has its own bracket schedule.
What happens to my 401(k) contribution tax savings?
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal taxable wages and most state wages, lowering income tax withholding. They do not reduce FICA on standard wages, but they can materially increase net pay.