The complete guide to optimizing your U.S. salary

A practical order for international professionals. Updated September 2026. Educational only.

What to do

Put the next dollar where it does the most, after you protect the monthly take-home you actually need. For many people the order is: employer match, then HSA (if you have a qualifying plan), then IRA, then extra 401(k), then a taxable account.

Why this order

• Match is compensation you lose if you do not claim it.
• HSA can be triple tax-advantaged if you qualify, and the cash has a medical use.
• IRA is useful when the workplace plan is weak, or when Roth vs traditional is the real decision.
• Extra 401(k) still shelters income, but it locks money inside plan rules.
• Taxable keeps money accessible if you may leave the U.S. or need cash.

What changes the order

• No employer match, or a match you cannot vest.
• No HSA-eligible health plan.
• You may leave the U.S. and need access more than tax deferral.
• High-interest debt, or too little cash after rent.

The homepage sample ($140,000 salary, $7,000 monthly take-home, $18,200 contribution) is an illustration, not your result.

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Not tax, legal, or investment advice. Plan rules and tax law change. See the disclaimer.