Build pay, time, cost and benefit ledgers
Choose an annual, monthly or hourly decision period before collecting inputs. Mark every item as a document fact, user estimate or qualitative factor so unlike evidence does not disappear into one total.
| Ledger | Questions to answer | Unit to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Compensation | Base, variable and contingent pay | Currency per chosen period |
| Time | Paid, worked and committed hours | Hours per chosen period |
| Work costs | Commute, care and direct costs | Currency per chosen period |
| Benefits | Entered retirement, health, leave and equity values | Labelled annual scenarios |
Route the question before entering numbers
For pay after committed time and costs, read the Effective hourly wage guide, use the Effective hourly wage calculator, and inspect its methodology before choosing inputs.
For an entered package ledger, read the Total compensation guide, use the Total compensation calculator, and inspect its methodology without importing time or commute into benefit fields.
For travel cash and time, read the Commute cost guide, use the Commute cost calculator, and inspect its methodology and keep housing choices separate.
For two disclosed offers, read the Job offer comparison guide, use the Job offer comparison calculator, and inspect its methodology after the component ledgers are ready.
Reconcile compatible outputs and retain qualitative factors
- Use one time horizon and one currency before comparing monetary outputs.
- Keep annual money, hourly money and hours in separate columns.
- Transfer a benefit or work cost into a summary only once.
- Record flexibility, security, schedule control and career fit in a written memo.
- Choose a specialist next step instead of manufacturing a composite score.
Frequently asked questions
- Should every work decision end with one work-value number?
- No. A single metric can hide incompatible units and qualitative priorities. Use bounded measures side by side.
- Which calculator should I use first?
- Start with the uncertainty blocking the decision: time-adjusted pay, total package, commute, or offer fields. Then use the matching specialist tool.
Sources checked
- Wages and working time statistics: concepts and definitions — ILOSTAT (accessed 2026-07-28): Conceptual context for keeping earnings, hours and time periods explicit; not a local legal rule.
- Resolution concerning the measurement of working time — International Labour Organization (accessed 2026-07-28): Conceptual working-time boundary only; no jurisdiction-specific entitlement is inferred.