AMIAnalyze My IncomeOne question. One clear answer.
Free2026 taxes50 states

Should you take the 1099 offer?

Enter the W-2 salary, the 1099 offer and your state. We show the better offer and the contractor pay needed to match the W-2 job.

Analyze My Income is a free calculator suite for comparing W-2 and 1099 pay, finding contractor rates and estimating self-employed taxes.

1

YOUR NUMBERS

Start simple

W-2 JOB
$
1099 CONTRACT
$
Add more detailsOptional — expenses, health insurance and billable hoursOptional +
$
$

Current assumptions: $0 business costs, $0 health insurance, 2,000 billable hours.

✓ No signup✓ 2026 model✓ 50 statesMethodology
STEP 2 · RESULT

Your answer

One answer first.

Ready to compare
—
1099
Your take-home result:—
1099 PAY NEEDED TO MATCH THE W-2—

Minimum modeled annual 1099 pay needed to match the W-2 take-home.

See full breakdownTake-home, taxes, counter-offer, benefits and chartView +
W2
W-2 take-home—
1099
1099 take-home—
2

DETAILS

What the numbers say

ADVANCED COMPARISON

Replace the full value of your W-2 package

Add bonus, employer benefits, PTO, downtime and your own risk margin only if you need a deeper negotiation target.

3

CHART

Take-home comparison

Understand your result

How to read your W-2 vs 1099 result

The calculator leads with the decision. These are the three numbers that matter most and what each one actually means.

Verdict

Which offer leaves more

The green or red answer compares the modeled annual take-home from the W-2 job with the current 1099 offer using the inputs you supplied.

Break-even

1099 pay needed to match W-2

This is the lowest modeled annual contractor gross that reaches approximately the same take-home as the W-2 side. It is a financial floor, not automatically your negotiation target.

Details

What creates the difference

Open the full breakdown to see take-home values, state-tax estimates, the counter-offer reference, optional benefits analysis and the comparison chart.

How it works

Three steps, with the complexity kept underneath.

Estimate W-2 take-home

The engine applies the supported 2026 federal payroll, income-tax and selected-state path to the W-2 salary.

Estimate 1099 take-home

The contractor side adds self-employment tax and can include business costs and self-funded health insurance when you choose to enter them.

Solve for break-even

The engine searches for the minimum 1099 gross that reaches the modeled W-2 take-home, then converts that annual amount to an hourly target when hours are supplied.

Why Analyze My Income

Built for the decision, not just the arithmetic.

Many quick calculators apply a generic percentage or stop at one federal tax estimate. Analyze My Income is designed to answer a practical compensation question while keeping the assumptions visible.

Scenario-specific, not a fixed markup

The engine uses the numbers you enter instead of assuming every contractor should simply add 20% or 30%.

2026 federal + state model

The standard model uses the documented 2026 federal path and a separate state-income-tax path for all 50 states.

Simple first, advanced when needed

The first screen asks for the minimum useful inputs. Expenses, insurance, withholding, benefits and other details stay optional.

Methodology you can inspect

Key formulas, assumptions, limitations and primary-source references are published rather than hidden behind the result.

Important limits

When the estimate may need more context

The standard comparison is primarily a single-filer, resident ordinary-income planning model with one sole-proprietor 1099 business and the standard deduction. Local taxes, credits, itemized deductions, entity elections, multi-state situations and other special cases can change the real result. Read the full model scope and methodology →

Who is Analyze My Income?

Analyze My Income is an independent web-based planning project focused on making W-2, 1099 and self-employment income decisions easier to understand. It provides calculators and educational explanations; it does not prepare tax returns or claim professional credentials it cannot verify.

About the project →
Frequently asked questions

Questions people ask before using the result

Does a higher 1099 offer always mean I should take it?

No. Headline gross pay can hide self-employment tax, business costs, health insurance, unpaid time and lost employer benefits. The calculator compares modeled take-home first.

Is the break-even number the rate I should negotiate?

Not necessarily. Break-even is the modeled financial floor. A negotiation target can be higher if you want compensation for benefits, downtime, contract risk or business profit.

Why can two people with the same W-2 salary get different results?

State tax, contractor expenses, health insurance and realistic billable hours can all move the required 1099 compensation.

Does the calculator include all 50 states?

The production state layer contains all 50 states for the standard individual-income-tax comparison. Local city, county and other special taxes are not generally included.

Is this tax advice?

No. Analyze My Income provides planning estimates and educational information, not individualized tax, legal or accounting advice.

See all FAQs →
Calculation transparency Tax year 2026 · Last reviewed August 18, 2026

Federal parameters are checked against IRS and Social Security Administration material; state parameters are checked against official state tax authorities. Current standard scope is primarily a single filer, resident ordinary income, one sole-proprietor 1099 business and the standard deduction. Local taxes and special situations can differ.

All calculators → Methodology & official sources → About & editorial standards →
How it works

Compare the offers on net economics

A W-2 salary and 1099 offer should not be compared dollar for dollar. Analyze My Income estimates both take-home values and then solves for the contractor gross amount needed to reach the W-2 take-home target. Expenses, health insurance and realistic billable hours can be added only when you want more precision.

01

No fixed 20% rule

The required contractor premium changes with salary, state, costs, health insurance and hours. The calculator solves for your modeled break-even instead of applying one generic markup.

02

Go deeper only when needed

The simple comparison leads with three inputs. Optional sections add contractor costs, benefits, PTO, downtime and risk without cluttering the first decision.

More tools

Continue with the next question

View all comparisons →
RATE

Find your 1099 rate

Convert W-2 salary to contractor pay →
TAX

Estimate 1099 taxes

1099 tax calculator →
PAYMENTS

Plan quarterly taxes

Quarterly payment calculator →
Common questions

W-2 vs 1099 FAQ

Is a higher 1099 offer automatically better?

No. Compare after-tax value, costs, benefits and non-billable time.

What is the break-even result?

The lowest modeled 1099 gross that reaches the W-2 take-home estimate under your inputs.

Is this tax filing software?

No. It is planning software built on the documented 2026 model scope.

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