What CompCalc Is
CompCalc is a free, browser-based toolkit for understanding total compensation packages — particularly for tech workers whose pay includes base salary, equity (RSUs or stock options), and vesting schedules.
It was built because most compensation calculators either stop at base salary or require painful spreadsheet work to model equity over time. CompCalc does the modeling for you: year-by-year breakdowns, vesting schedule visualisation, multi-offer comparison, and stock price scenario planning.
What CompCalc Is Not
CompCalc is an educational and illustrative tool. It is not a licensed financial advisor, tax calculator, or legal service. Specifically:
- Not tax advice. CompCalc does not calculate your tax liability. Equity compensation has complex tax implications that vary by country, employment type, and individual situation. Always consult a qualified tax professional.
- Not financial advice. The calculators help you model scenarios — they don't tell you which offer to take or how to invest your shares.
- Not a guarantee. All calculations are estimates based on inputs you provide. Stock prices change; bonus payouts vary; refresh grants differ by company.
How the Calculations Work
Here are the key assumptions behind the calculators:
RSU Value
RSU value is calculated as number of shares vesting in a period × stock price at that time. If you enter a stock price growth rate, CompCalc compounds it year over year. Grant-date value and vest-date value will differ if you model price changes.
Vesting Schedules
You can set custom yearly vesting percentages. Common presets include standard even 25/25/25/25, back-loaded (5/15/40/40), and front-loaded (38/32/20/10). The calculator distributes your grant value according to these percentages and the stock price at each year.
Salary Growth
In the advanced settings, you can set a year-over-year salary growth rate. This compounds your base salary each year. It defaults to 3% after Year 1 as a common planning assumption, but you can change it to 0% or any value.
Options Value
Stock options are valued as (current stock price − strike price) × number of options. If the current price is below the strike, options are shown as $0 (worthless). An optional illiquidity discount lets you reduce the modeled value for private company options.
Cost-of-Living & Benefits (Compare Tool)
The Compare Job Offers tool applies a location cost-of-living index from a static reference table of major US metros. These are approximate figures for planning purposes only — not authoritative COL data. Benefits valuations (PTO days, 401k match) are simple dollar-value estimates based on your salary inputs.
Privacy & Data
All calculations happen in your browser. No compensation data is sent to any server or stored anywhere. CompCalc has no account system and no data retention. Your numbers stay yours.
Disclaimer
CompCalc provides general information and illustrative calculations for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Calculations are estimates based on user inputs and assumptions and may not reflect actual outcomes. You should consult a qualified financial, tax, or legal professional before making any decisions related to compensation, equity, or employment offers.