Every time I'm reading discussion on salaries I'm not really sure what number people are actually talking about.
Is it net or gross? Before or after income taxes?
Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
1–10 of 51 posts
Re: Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
#2People quote pre-tax salaries. The after-tax salary depends not only on the taxing jurisdiction but on the spouse's income if any, since that affects the marginal tax bracket.
Re: Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
#3Always before, but you should also factor in local taxes and cost of living yourself when evaluating an offer.
Re: Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
#4Taxes are too variable from person to person, so when I talk salary, I talk gross, and in my head I know about what my tax rate will be and I figure accordingly.
Re: Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
#5Always pre tax.
Everything depends on the person. For example the same 2 people can make exactly the same, but live in 2 different states.
And with state income tax is varying from 10% all the way down to 0%, this choice of locale can make a big difference
Re: Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
#6People quote pre-tax salaries. The after-tax salary depends not only on the taxing jurisdiction but on the spouse's income if any, since that affects the marginal tax bracket.
Also deductions for kids can apply, all kinds of circumstances.
Re: Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
#7Always pre-tax. (Gross)
There's far too many tax variables to discuss salaries at net level.
Re: Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
#8Always pre tax. Everything depends on the person. For example the same 2 people can make exactly the same, but live in 2 different states. And with state income tax is varying from 10% all the way down to 0%, this choice of locale can make a big difference
It's not just state income tax making a big difference, it's also health insurance! The employee contribution towards health insurance premiums has IME ranged from $0 to $10k.
So even in the same state, two different employers paying the same gross salary could mean very different net salaries. Unfortunately, it's also a big pain in my experience to get companies to disclose this information before hiring.
Re: Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
#9Gross, always before taxes in Canada at least. Taxes vary by province, less confusing to not include any deductions.
Re: Ask HN: Salary discussions – numbers are before or after taxes?
#10People quote pre-tax salaries. The after-tax salary depends not only on the taxing jurisdiction but on the spouse's income if any, since that affects the marginal tax bracket.
> The after-tax salary depends [...] on the spouse's income
This is not true, in some countries. In the US it is true.