The job comparator is a simple tool that helps calculate the real hourly wages for different jobs and then allows those wages to be compared. To calculate a real wage it factors in all aspects of employment related compensation and expenses.
The job comparator sums up all of the earnings and benefits for a position. Then, it sums up all the expenses for the position and subtracts them from the earnings to get a true annual wage. Next, the job comparator calculates the total number of hours dedicated towards work by factoring in work hours, commute hours, and vacation hours. With those two numbers it calculates the real hourly wage.
Since the value of a dollar decreases over time, the job comparator will also convert past wages into present dollars, so a fair comparison of compensation earned over many years can be made (to enable this feature you must enable the "seasonal salary adjustment" option).
The job comparator also allows jobs to be shared, so custom earnings profiles can be compared against publicly shared wage profiles. Try comparing salaries with one of the featured jobs listed on this page.
Why would someone wish to calculate a "real hourly wage"? Not everyone would, some people simply wish to maximize their annual earning, which is one approach. But, savvy workers conduct their employment as a business conducts it's investments. They seek to get the most return for their investment. As an employee, their investment is their time and their return is their wages. A higher real hourly wage signifies a better return on their investment.