The higher salary isn't always the better offer once commute time and benefits are factored in. Compare two offers side by side to see which one truly pays more per hour of your life.
Each offer's total annual value is salary plus bonus plus your estimated benefits value. To get the effective hourly value, that total is divided by 2,080 standard work hours per year plus the extra unpaid hours you'll spend commuting (commute minutes × 2 × office days per week × 52 weeks, converted to hours).
This means two offers with the same salary can have very different effective hourly values once commute time is factored in — a shorter commute effectively "pays" you for time a longer commute takes away for free. It's one useful lens for comparing offers, not the only factor worth considering (career growth, job satisfaction, and other qualitative factors still matter).
Time spent commuting is time you don't get paid for and can't use elsewhere, so this calculator treats it as effectively diluting your total compensation across more hours of your week.
A rough estimate can include your employer's 401(k)/retirement match in dollars, the portion of health insurance premiums your employer covers, and any other recurring perks with a clear dollar value.
No — this is one useful, objective data point. Career growth potential, job security, workplace culture, and personal fulfillment matter too and aren't captured by this calculation.