COMPENSATION · #92

Dual-Career Household Income Optimizer

Two incomes, one household. Model childcare break-even salary, part-time sabbatical cost, and geographic relocation trade-offs for dual-earner couples.

📋 Data: BLS CES 2024 · ChildCare Aware of America 2024

Household Incomes

Partner A Gross Salary ($)

Partner B Gross Salary ($) Enter Partner B's actual salary to assess break-even

Combined Federal Effective Tax Rate (%) Effective (not marginal) rate on household income

Childcare Costs

Annual Childcare Cost per Child ($) Avg US infant full-time care ~$25,000/yr (ChildCare Aware 2024)

Number of Children in Childcare

Childcare Break-Even Analysis

Childcare Break-Even Salary

—

Partner B must earn above this to net-positive from working

Net Contribution (Partner B)

—

After tax and childcare

Total Childcare Cost

—

Household Net (Both Working)

—

After combined taxes and childcare

Household Net (One Stops)

—

Partner A only, no childcare cost

Sabbatical / Step-Down Parameters

Stepping-Down Partner Salary ($)

Work Reduction

Duration (months)

Employer 401k Match (%) % of salary matched by employer

Annual Income Growth Rate (%) For 10-year opportunity cost calculation

Sabbatical Cost Breakdown

Direct Income Lost

—

401k Match Lost

—

Employer match foregone

10-Year Opportunity Cost

—

Compounding income gap

Total True Cost of Sabbatical

—

Direct loss + 401k + 10-yr compounding opportunity cost

Cost Component	Amount

Dual-Income Relocation Analysis

Partner A — Current Salary ($)

Partner A — New Salary Post-Move ($)

Partner B — Current Salary ($)

Partner B — Expected Salary Post-Move ($) Enter 0 if no job lined up yet

Origin City

Destination City

Household Relocation Impact

Nominal Household Income Change

—

COL-Adjusted Household Change

—

Purchasing power equivalent

Current Household Income

—

Pre-move combined

New Household Income

—

Post-move combined