Video Tutorial
Walkthrough Guide
Watch the step-by-step walkthrough detailing how the "Job-Hopping Tax" is calculated and how you can negotiate offers to offset forfeited matching assets.
Career Calculator
Job-Hop vs. Retention Compensation Calculator
You can stay and take the annual raise, or move for a bigger number. Which leaves you with more after ten years?
Model the compounding differences between standard cost-of-living raises and strategic career hopping over a 10-year horizon.
E-E-A-T Verified
Developed & audited by Gini Loh What this calculator answers, what you need, and what to do with the result
Have this in front of you
- Your current salary, and the raise percentages of the last three years.
- What a move would realistically pay, from a recruiter conversation rather than a headline.
- How many years you intend to keep working. The compounding needs runway.
Words on this page, in plain English
- Velocity
- How fast your pay rises per year. A 3% raise and a 15% move are the same decision repeated annually.
- Cliff
- Unvested equity you forfeit by leaving. It is a real cost of the move and belongs on the leaving side.
What to do with the answer
- 01Add the unvested equity you would forfeit. A move that pays 15% more can still lose in year one.
- 02Check whether the new employer matches the retirement contribution you are giving up.
- 03Decide on a review cadence: switching every 18 months has its own cost in trust and depth.
Year 10 Raise Delta Portfolio
$85,724
Compounded at 8% annual return
Year 10 Salary Comparison
$181,600 vs $143,568
+26% Switcher premium
Year 10 Net Take-home
$145,280 vs $114,854
Inclusive of tax, matches & transition friction
10-Year Compounding Trajectory
Visualize the divergence in salary or compounded raise portfolios.
Hover mouse cursor over the chart nodes to view detailed yearly projections.
Calculator Configuration
Embed this calculator on your site ↓
Bloggers & authors: Embed this interactive calculator directly in your articles or comparison guides. It loads dynamically via a responsive iframe (auto-resizing to prevent double scrollbars) and provides a direct, high-value tool for your audience.
<div class="giniloh-calculator-embed" data-calculator="raise-velocity"></div>
<script src="https://giniloh.com/embed.js" async></script> Strategy note
The Loyalty Penalty
Studies show that staying at the same company for more than two years can cost you up to 50% in lifetime earnings compared to strategic job-hopping. This simulator compiles all cash-flow sources (base, bonus, match, tax, location, and hours) to visualize the true financial divergence.
Formulas
Raise Delta:
ΔN_t = N_switcher,t - N_stayer,t
Compounded Portfolio:
P_t = P_t-1 * (1 + R_p) + ΔN_t
Effective Hourly Rate:
Rate = Comp_CoL / (Hours_Year)
FAQ
What is the "Loyalty Tax"?
The loyalty tax is the economic penalty paid by long-term employees. Because corporate talent acquisition budgets are significantly larger than internal merit raise pools, external hires are priced dynamically to market demand, regularly leaving loyal employees earning up to 50% less over their lifetime.
Why do switcher transitions result in a temporary net worth deficit?
Transitioning between companies triggers immediate job-hopping frictions, such as unvested 401(k) matching forfeiture, unvested performance bonus cuts due to timing, and COBRA gap healthcare coverage. In the short term, this friction can outweigh the salary bump, though the higher base salary compounds to a massive net positive by Year 10.
How does the portfolio compounding integration work?
The calculator isolates the "Raise Delta"—the net take-home pay difference between staying and job-hopping—and models investing that capital directly into an index portfolio compounding at a specified market return rate (default 8%).
Related Article
Jobs Switch Calculator: Step-by-Step Profit Guide
Are you considering a jobs switch but worried about forfeiting years of unvested 401(k) matches? The Gilinoh Raise & Job-Hop Velocity Calculator exposes the hidden financial trade-offs most professionals overlook. In a realistic scenario, a mid-career engineer earning $120,000 receives a 12% raise offer—yet loses over $21,000 in unvested employer matches, creating a $4,000 switching deficit in year three. This tool transforms abstract risk into concrete numbers, showing exactly how to negotiate a signing bonus of at least $15,000 to break even. Stop leaving money behind. Use the calculator’s step-by-step walkthrough to compare stay-versus-switch trajectories, identify negotiation levers, and ensure your next move actually pays off.
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