Salary · 8 min read
How to compare remote salary ranges
Normalise currency, pay period, employment type and location rules before deciding which headline number is higher.
Reviewed July 20, 2026Make the numbers comparable
Convert both offers to one annual currency, then separate guaranteed cash from bonus, commission and equity. Record the exchange-rate date instead of treating conversion as permanent.
Account for employment type
A contractor rate must cover benefits, leave, taxes, insurance and unpaid downtime that an employee package may include.
- Base salary or guaranteed contract value
- Expected variable compensation
- Health, retirement and paid leave
- Equipment and home-office support
- Currency and payment fees
- Geographic pay adjustments
Use ranges carefully
A published band may cover several locations or levels. Ask where your experience and location place you inside it and what evidence would justify the upper half.
Quick answers
Common questions
Should I compare equity at its stated value?
Treat private-company equity as uncertain upside, not guaranteed cash. Ask about grant size, vesting, exercise cost and the latest valuation.
How should contractors compare hourly and annual pay?
Choose a realistic number of billable weeks and hours, then subtract expected taxes, benefits, insurance, fees and unpaid leave.