Sales Job Offer Comparison Calculator

Compare two sales offers using the same attainment and tax assumptions.

2026 U.S. model Free Private in your browser

Compare your offers

Use the same attainment and filing status for both.

For married filing jointly, each offer is treated as the household wage income.

Offer A
Deductions and employer match

Annual employee share, assumed pre-tax under Section 125.

Shown as value, not spendable take-home pay.

Offer B
Deductions and employer match

Annual employee share, assumed pre-tax under Section 125.

Shown as value, not spendable take-home pay.

Take-home across attainment scenarios

AttainmentOffer AOffer BDifference
50%$116,896$123,672Offer B +$6,777
80%$140,195$145,552Offer B +$5,357
100%$154,413$160,282Offer B +$5,869
120%$174,699$176,860Offer B +$2,161
150%$203,602$201,300Offer A +$2,302

How to compare sales offers beyond OTE

OTE is a target, not a promise. A useful comparison starts with guaranteed base and signing cash, then models commission at the same realistic attainment. It also checks how much quota supports that pay and how much of the package is at risk.

Modeled take-home = gross cash − federal tax − state tax − FICA − employee deductions
Total modeled value = take-home + employer retirement match

The employer match is shown separately because it is valuable but not spendable take-home pay. Equity is excluded because its value and liquidity are too company-specific to turn into a dependable annual cash number.

Use one attainment assumption, then challenge the odds

Holding attainment constant reveals what is structurally different about the two plans: base-variable split, accelerator, quota, state, deductions, and benefits. After that comparison, ask whether 80% or 100% attainment is equally plausible in both territories.

Ask each company for the percentage of fully ramped reps who hit quota, median attainment, territory history, lead source, average sales cycle, ramp quota, and how often plans changed. Use the sales job red flags checklist to pressure-test the parts a calculator cannot see.

How state taxes affect a sales offer

Remote sales roles can create meaningful state differences. The calculator lets each offer use a different work or tax state and applies that state's published 2026 wage-income brackets and basic deductions. It does not determine residency, nexus, multi-state allocation, local tax obligations, or every state's special treatment of pre-tax deductions. Married filing jointly assumes the offer income is the household's wage income.

What to verify before accepting

  • The written quota, crediting rules, payout timing, accelerators, caps, and clawbacks.
  • Ramp duration, ramp quota, guarantees, draws, and when the full quota begins.
  • How many fully ramped reps reached 50%, 80%, 100%, and 120% last year.
  • Territory history, account ownership, inbound support, product fit, and manager tenure.
  • Actual health-plan premiums, deductibles, retirement vesting, and equity terms.

Common questions about comparing sales offers

How should I compare two sales job offers?

Compare guaranteed cash, realistic commission at the same attainment, quota-to-OTE ratio, state taxes, employee benefit costs, employer match, ramp protection, and the written commission rules. OTE alone is not enough.

Why does the calculator use the same attainment for both offers?

A shared attainment assumption creates a consistent first comparison. You should still challenge whether each territory and team makes that attainment equally likely.

Does the offer comparison include state taxes?

Yes. Each offer can use a different state. The calculator applies 2026 state wage-income brackets and basic deductions for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., while excluding local taxes and many special credits.

Does a higher modeled take-home mean I should accept that offer?

No. The result is one financial lens. Territory quality, manager, product-market fit, ramp, quota attainment history, payout terms, caps, clawbacks, equity, and career fit can outweigh a take-home difference.

Use live compensation-forward listings to pressure-test both offers.

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