Why the headline salary is not enough
Two offers with the same gross salary can leave you with different take-home pay. What matters is how the package is split between basic salary, allowances and bonuses, because each is treated differently:
- SSNIT is charged on basic salary only, so a higher basic salary means a higher deduction — and a larger pension contribution.
- Cash allowances are taxed under PAYE but do not attract SSNIT.
- Bonuses up to 15% of annual basic salary are taxed at a flat 5%; anything above that is taxed at normal rates.
Example: same gross, different split
Offer A pays GH₵6,000.00 a month, all as basic salary. Offer B pays the same GH₵6,000.00, split into GH₵5,000.00 basic salary and GH₵1,000.00 allowances.
- Offer A: SSNIT GH₵330.00, PAYE GH₵1,016.00, take-home GH₵4,654.00
- Offer B: SSNIT GH₵275.00, PAYE GH₵1,029.75, take-home GH₵4,695.25
Offer B gives GH₵41.25 more cash each month, but Offer A puts GH₵55.00 more into your SSNIT pension. Neither is simply "better" — it depends on what you value.
A checklist for comparing offers
- Put both offers in — monthly or annual is fine; the calculator converts them.
- Compare annual take-home pay, which includes bonuses, and a regular month, which does not.
- Ask whether bonuses are guaranteed or depend on performance. Leave out anything that is not guaranteed.
- Add the value of benefits that save you money: medical cover, transport, meals, housing, training.
- Consider growth, job security, commute and working hours — they are part of the package too.
Know the take-home pay you need? Use the net-to-gross calculator to find the gross salary to ask for, and read our salary guide for negotiation basics.