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Two jobs that both pay $90,000 before tax can still sit $5,062 a year apart. In the example, Offer A pays $85,000 plus a $5,000 bonus in Ontario. Offer B pays $90,000 in Alberta, with a bigger RRSP match, more time off and a shorter commute. After tax, benefits, employer RRSP money and commute costs, Offer B comes out $421.80 a month ahead.
How do I compare two job offers after tax?
Start with take-home pay, add what the employer gives you and subtract what the job costs. Offer A’s take-home pay is $67,197 and Offer B’s is $67,509. Employer RRSP money adds $2,550 and $4,500, benefits add $2,000 and $3,000, and commuting costs $3,000 and $1,200 a year.
| Offer A | Offer B | |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay | $67,197 | $67,509 |
| Employer RRSP money | $2,550 | $4,500 |
| Other benefits | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Commute cost | $3,000 | $1,200 |
| Value after tax and commute | $68,747 | $73,809 |
Does the province change which offer wins?
Sometimes, but less than people expect at middle incomes. On the same $90,000 of pay, Alberta leaves $312 more take-home pay than Ontario in this comparison, so most of the $5,062 gap comes from the match, the benefits and the commute. A move to or from Quebec changes more, because Quebec has its own pension plan, its own parental insurance premium and its own tax credits. The where are taxes lowest tool ranks every province for one salary.
How do I put a price on commute and time off?
Divide the value you keep by the hours the job takes, commute included. Offer A works 235 days and spends about 313 hours commuting, while Offer B works 230 days and spends about 115 hours. Per hour worked and commuted, A pays $31.34 and B pays $40.11. Extra paid days off raise that figure without changing your salary, so the comparison counts them.
Which extras are worth counting?
Count a bonus only if it’s paid in a normal year. It’s taxed at your highest rates, and a bonus cheque may withhold less than the real bill. Employer RRSP money is worth less than its face value, since it’s taxed when you withdraw it. Count benefits at what you’d otherwise pay yourself. Your own RRSP room is 18% of last year’s earned income up to $33,810 for 2026, so check it before you rely on the match. The raise calculator shows what a pay rise adds after tax. Hours matter too: a 37.5 hour week against a 40 hour week gives Offer B more value per hour even before the commute is counted.
Where does this information come from?
CPP rules, RRSP room and income tax rates come from the CRA pages listed below; take-home pay and every dollar result are estimates from this site’s own pay and tax engine (October 2026). Checked in October 2026. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. Check the official source before you rely on it. See the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take the higher salary or the better benefits?
Compare the total after tax. In the example both offers pay $90,000 before tax, but Offer B adds $7,500 of RRSP money and benefits against $4,550 for Offer A. A lower salary can win when the extras cover things you would buy anyway.
Is a bonus as valuable as salary?
Only if you can count on it. A bonus is added to income and taxed at your marginal rate, so a $5,000 bonus can keep well under $5,000 after tax. Treat uncertain bonuses as zero until they're paid.
How do I value a longer commute?
Add the fuel, transit or parking cost, then count the hours. In the example, 40 minutes each way adds about 313 hours a year for Offer A, against about 115 for Offer B. Dividing the value by total hours shows your real hourly pay.
Do I need to enter the same province for both offers?
No. Each offer is taxed in its own province, so you can compare a job in Ontario with one in Alberta or Nova Scotia. Keep in mind that the tax year uses the province you live in on December 31.