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Offer comparison calculator

Compare offers using annual CTC and your estimated monthly in-hand (from the CTC→in-hand tool or payslip assumptions). This page ranks what you enter — it does not invent in-hand from CTC automatically.

Content reviewed: March 2026FY 2025–26 (AY 2026–27) tax slabs in engineRules aligned: Union Budget 2025 — new regime slabs & Section 87A (≤₹12L taxable); cess 4%

How SalaryExit calculates estimates (methodology, FY scope, and limits).

In-hand must be estimated consistently across offers — the accuracy card explains ranking limits.

Required inputs

  • At least two offers
  • Each: label, annual CTC (₹), estimated monthly in-hand (₹)
  • Optional: estimated annual tax (₹) if you want to track it consistently

Offer 1

Use the same method for each offer.

Offer 2

Use the same method for each offer.

Enter at least two comparable offers. The ranking is only as good as your in-hand estimates.

Assumptions used by this estimate

  • Ranking uses the monthly in-hand and annual CTC values you enter — it does not recompute tax inside this screen.
  • For fair comparison, compute each offer’s in-hand using the same CTC→in-hand methodology.
  • Optional annual tax can be used for notes/ranking context if you keep it consistent across offers.

Worked example (same engine as live calculator)

Offer A: CTC ₹18L, in-hand ₹1,05,000/mo. Offer B: CTC ₹20L, in-hand ₹1,02,000/mo. This tool ranks by the numbers you believe are comparable — not by automatically recomputing tax.

FAQ

Can SalaryExit compute in-hand for me?

Use the CTC→in-hand calculator for each offer with consistent assumptions, then paste results here.

Comparing job offers beyond CTC: what actually determines your take-home

CTC (Cost to Company) is the most common metric used to compare Indian job offers, but it is one of the least reliable for comparing actual financial outcomes. Two offers with the same CTC can produce meaningfully different monthly in-hand amounts based on how the CTC is structured — and even more different quality-of-life outcomes based on city, benefits, and risk profile.

The fixed-vs-variable split is the first thing to examine. A ₹20 LPA offer with ₹5 lakh variable (performance-linked) is not the same as a ₹20 LPA offer that is 100% fixed. Variable pay depends on individual and company performance — and in practice, many employees receive 60–80% of target variable. Compare offers on fixed gross, not total CTC including aspirational variable.

Joining bonuses are common for senior hires and employees leaving mid-appraisal. A ₹2 lakh joining bonus in a ₹20 LPA offer is equivalent to ₹10,000/month amortized — and it is typically clawed back if you leave within 12–24 months. Treat joining bonuses as a one-time adjustment, not a salary enhancement, when comparing offers for the medium term. Similarly, a retention bonus at your current company only counts if you plan to stay — do not let a conditional future payment anchor your negotiation against a concrete offer.

The Basic+DA split also matters: a company with a low Basic (30–35% of gross) will produce lower employee PF deductions, slightly higher monthly in-hand, but also lower gratuity accrual and potentially lower leave encashment. A company with 40–50% Basic has higher statutory deductions but more “employer-paid” retirement benefits. Neither is universally better — it depends on your priorities. Use this calculator to compare net in-hand after PF across offer structures.

  • Compare fixed gross first, not CTC — strip variable pay from headline offers.
  • Amortize joining bonuses over a realistic tenure before counting them as “salary”.
  • Higher Basic+DA = higher PF, higher gratuity, slightly lower in-hand — different risk profile.
  • Factor ESOPs separately: vesting schedules, strike price, and liquidity events are not salary.
  • City cost of living matters more than CTC at similar gross levels — ₹18 LPA in Pune ≠ ₹18 LPA in Mumbai.

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