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1099 vs W-2

Compare contractor and employee take-home, then add W-2 benefits into the true compensation picture.

Tax year
Filing status
Enter your annual 1099 income (contractor income, freelance income, etc.).
Enter your annual W-2 income (wages, salary, tips from employment).
Estimate your other total household income for the year. This includes, but is not limited to:

Business income, wages, interest, dividends, capital gains, rental income, social security and retirement benefits.
W-2 employee benefits (employer-paid)
Enter the annual employer-paid retirement value — 401(k) match, pension, or similar. This is added to W-2 net take-home for the comparison.
Enter the annual employer-paid health, dental, and vision premium value. This is added to W-2 net take-home for the comparison.
Enter other annual employer-paid benefits: HSA contributions, life or disability insurance, wellness stipends, and similar perks. This is added to W-2 net take-home for the comparison.

W-2 benefits are added to net take-home. 1099 contractors typically self-fund those costs.

Important disclaimers

  • This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice.
  • Results are estimates based solely on the information entered and assumptions used by the calculator. Actual tax savings and liabilities may vary.
  • W-2 employee benefits are added to net take-home for comparison only. They are not cash wages and may be taxable, nontaxable, or deferred depending on the benefit.
  • 1099 contractors typically pay their own retirement, health insurance, and other benefits out of take-home pay.

What's Next?

Key Notes

  • Confirm your projections with a qualified tax advisor before making a final decision.
  • W-2 employer-paid retirement, health insurance, and other benefits are added to net take-home so the comparison reflects total compensation, not cash alone.
  • These figures are estimates only, based on the information you entered.

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