A job offer is exciting, and it is easy to focus on the headline salary and miss the rest. The letter and any attached benefits schedule set out what you are being promised and what you are agreeing to. Reading them carefully, and asking questions before you sign, protects you from disappointment later. This guide walks through the parts of a typical offer. It is general information, not legal advice.

Start with the figures

Find the salary and check whether it is gross or net, monthly or annual. A gross monthly salary of KES 120,000 is very different from a net one, because statutory deductions and PAYE reduce what reaches your bank. Use the net to gross salary calculator and the PAYE calculator to translate the offer into take-home pay, and read how to calculate take-home pay from gross salary in Kenya.

Separate basic pay from allowances

Many offers list a basic salary plus allowances for housing, transport or other items. The split matters because some things, such as certain contributions and overtime, are calculated on basic pay, and because allowances may be taxed differently. Ask which parts are guaranteed and which depend on conditions. Taxable allowances and company benefits explains how common allowances are treated.

Benefits in kind

A company car, housing, a phone or a low-interest loan are benefits that have a value and may be taxable. The letter should say what you receive and who pays the tax. Company car and housing benefits and the taxable benefits calculator show how they are valued. A benefit that looks generous may cost you tax each month.

Medical, pension and insurance

Look at the cover: who is insured, the annual limit, what is excluded and whether you pay a share. For pensions, check your contribution, the employer's, and any vesting period before you own the employer's share; questions to ask about your workplace pension scheme lists what to ask. Find out whether premiums are deducted from your pay.

Probation and start date

Note how long the probation lasts, what notice applies during it and when you will be confirmed. Probation, contracts and notice periods in Kenya explains the usual rules. Confirm the start date, the place of work, the reporting line and any conditions, such as references or medical checks, that must be met before you begin.

Hours, overtime and leave

Check the working hours, rest days and how overtime is treated. The overtime pay calculator shows the standard multipliers, and overtime pay rules and tax in Kenya explains them. Look at annual leave, sick leave and family leave against what the law provides; annual leave rights and leave pay in Kenya and sick, maternity and paternity leave in Kenya set the baseline.

Bonuses and variable pay

If the letter mentions a bonus or commission, ask exactly how it is calculated, when it is paid and whether it is guaranteed. A bonus described as "discretionary" may never be paid. Remember that variable pay is taxed at your highest rate; tax on bonuses and commissions shows what you will keep.

Restrictions and obligations

Read clauses on confidentiality, outside work, non-competition and notice. They can limit what you may do after you leave or while you work. If you plan a side business, check it is allowed; side hustle income for employees explains the tax. Ask for clarity on anything that seems broad.

Make a list of questions

Write down what is unclear and send it in one email. Ask for answers in writing and for the letter to be corrected if the answers differ from the text. A reasonable employer will not mind. What to check in an employment contract before you sign adds more clauses to review.

Compare offers properly

If you have more than one offer, compare the whole package, not just the headline. List salary, allowances, benefits, pension, leave, growth prospects and commute. Convert each to a take-home figure and a yearly value. The gross to net salary table makes the comparison easy.

Keep the documents

Once you accept, keep the signed letter and any schedule with your payslips. The tax records checklist and document log helps you file them. Check your first payslip against the offer using how to spot mistakes on your payslip. A careful read before you sign saves a lot of trouble after.