The Average Salary Jump When Changing Jobs
Typical salary increase by industry — job change vs. internal promotion
| Industry | Typical Salary Increase (Job Change) | Internal Raise (Same Company) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology / Software | 15–25% | 3–5% |
| Finance / Banking | 12–20% | 3–5% |
| Healthcare | 10–18% | 2–4% |
| Marketing / Communications | 10–15% | 2–3% |
| Education | 5–10% | 2–3% |
| Manufacturing | 8–12% | 2–4% |
| Legal | 15–25% | 3–5% |
The Non-Salary Job Change Costs
Job changes have real financial costs beyond just salary: 401k vesting restart (if cliff-vested), loss of accumulated PTO, potential COBRA healthcare gap, relocation costs, and the risk premium of leaving a known culture for an unknown one. Calculate these against the salary increase.
If your current employer has a 3-year cliff vesting schedule for equity or employer 401k match, leaving before year 3 forfeits unvested compensation. A $5,000/year employer match fully vesting at year 3 = $15,000 in foregone compensation if you leave at month 30. Factor unvested compensation into any job change calculation.
Evaluating a Job Offer vs. Current Role
- Calculate total compensation for both: base + match + insurance value + remote flexibility + equity
- Subtract transition costs: unvested 401k match, unvested equity, relocation, PTO lost
- Add any one-time benefits: signing bonus, relocation assistance, stock grants
- Apply a risk premium for the uncertainty of a new role/company
- If net advantage ≥ 15% for same or better role: seriously consider the change
Compare Your Current and New Offer
Enter both salary figures and benefits — see the true financial gap between staying and leaving.