Top Sources for Accurate Salary Data

Accurate salary data is essential for job negotiations, career planning, and setting competitive pay rates. Here's a quick summary of the top platforms offering reliable salary insights:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): Official U.S. government data on wages by location, industry, and career trends.
• O*NET OnLine: National and state-level pay data, plus career projections and skill matching.
• Glassdoor: Employee-reported salaries with tools like "Know Your Worth™" for personalized estimates.
• PayScale: Combines base pay, bonuses, and benefits for market worth analysis.
• Salary.com: Real-time compensation reports, cost-of-living calculators, and HR integration tools.
• Ravio: Focused on tech and startups, with equity benchmarking and custom peer group comparisons.
• JobLogr: AI-powered tools for job search, resume optimization, and interview prep.

Quick Comparison

Platform	Best For	Key Features
BLS	Verified government data	Geographic and industry-specific insights
O*NET	Career planning	Skill matching and job projections
Glassdoor	Employee-reported data	Personalized salary calculators
PayScale	Market worth analysis	Base pay, bonuses, and benefits
Salary.com	HR and individual use	Real-time data and cost-of-living tools
Ravio	Tech/startups	Equity and market rate analysis
JobLogr	Job seekers	AI tools for job search and prep

To get the most accurate salary insights, use multiple platforms, account for location and experience, and update your research regularly.

13 Best Websites to Analyze Salary

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), part of the U.S. Department of Labor, is a trusted source for salary information in the United States. Through its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, the BLS provides detailed wage data updated every year.

What sets the BLS apart?

• Geographic Detail: Salary data is available for national, state, and metropolitan levels.
• Industry Breakdown: Wages are categorized by different industry sectors.
• Career Trends: The OEWS also highlights job growth projections.

You can explore BLS data using their interactive tools, wage trend reports, or API. However, keep in mind that the annual update cycle means the data might not reflect the latest market changes. Up next, we’ll look at another resource that complements BLS insights.

2. O*NET OnLine

O*NET OnLine, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, goes beyond basic salary data to offer a detailed look at various careers. It provides information on national wage averages, state-level pay differences, and future job projections. One standout feature is the "My Next Move" tool, which matches education, skills, and training to potential earnings.

The platform organizes data by occupational groups rather than individual companies. To get company-specific details, pair this resource with more targeted data sources.

3. Glassdoor

Glassdoor offers a mix of employee-reported salary data, detailed company reviews, and regularly updated compensation insights. Its salary calculator takes into account factors like years of experience, location, education, industry trends, and additional pay such as bonuses or stock options.

To maintain accuracy, Glassdoor verifies salary submissions by requiring details like job title, location, and employment status. This helps ensure the data remains reliable.

The Know Your Worth™ tool provides personalized salary estimates by analyzing factors like market demand, specific skills or certifications, company size, and industry trends. Beyond base pay, Glassdoor highlights other earnings like commissions, annual bonuses, stock options, and benefits. It advises users to rely on the latest figures to reflect current market conditions.

However, data for smaller companies or specialized roles may be limited. In such cases, combining Glassdoor's insights with other sources can give a more comprehensive picture. Up next, we’ll explore PayScale for additional real-time salary data.

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4. PayScale

PayScale compiles salary information from a variety of sources, providing a detailed look at compensation trends. It combines data on base pay, bonuses, and benefits to help professionals and job seekers understand their market worth.

Pairing PayScale with other resources can give you a broader perspective on current salary trends. Up next, we'll explore another tool that offers real-time salary data.

5. Salary.com

Salary.com is a platform used by over 10,000 businesses to access detailed compensation data for various roles across industries. Its strength lies in its CompAnalyst platform, which offers real-time insights through a suite of tools:

• SalaryIQ™: Provides the latest market pricing information.
• Compdata Surveys: Focuses on industry-specific salary trends.
• IPAS Surveys: Delivers detailed salary data tailored to specific roles and locations.

It also features a cost-of-living calculator to compare city expenses, making it easier for users to evaluate relocation options. Additionally, personalized salary reports can be generated based on factors like experience, skills, location, and current market trends.

Salary.com integrates with HR systems and ensures its data is regularly updated, giving both individuals and businesses the tools they need to make informed compensation decisions. Organizations benefit from solutions for market pricing, pay equity analysis, job structuring, and detailed compensation planning.

These features make Salary.com a versatile platform for both professionals and companies, setting the stage for the next salary data source.

6. Ravio

Ravio provides real-time salary data tailored specifically for tech companies and startups, focusing on roles and job titles that traditional databases often overlook.

Here’s what sets Ravio apart:

• Market Rate Analysis: Breaks down base salary, equity, and total compensation by market and company stage.
• Custom Peer Groups: Lets you compare salaries with groups customized by industry, funding stage, and location.
• Equity Benchmarking: Offers insights into stock options and equity compensation structures.

The platform's analytics dashboard keeps tabs on real-time pay trends, compares salaries across regions, and evaluates pay equity by role. Regular audits and cross-referencing ensure the data stays accurate.

Although it’s a newer player, Ravio is quickly becoming a go-to resource for the tech and startup world. Up next, we’ll dive into another platform pushing the boundaries of salary data precision.

7. JobLogr

JobLogr takes career planning to the next level by combining real-time salary data with AI-powered tools designed to simplify your job search. It’s a platform that helps you navigate your career path with precision and efficiency.

Here’s what JobLogr offers:

• AI-Powered Job Search: Uses artificial intelligence to find job opportunities tailored to your skills and experience across various job boards.
• Resume and Cover Letter Tools: Refines your resume and creates custom cover letters to match specific job openings.
• Interview Assistance: Generates targeted interview questions based on your resume and the job description to help you prepare effectively.

Recent data shows that platforms like JobLogr can increase the chances of receiving job offers by 53% and lead to 41% more job applications on average.

"I've been experimenting with JobLogr for weeks (as they continue to roll out additional functionality) and am seriously impressed... It's not often that I'm dazzled by the latest and greatest offerings designed to make job search more survivable....It's also priced extremely competitively." - Jenny Foss, Career Coach and Founder of JobJenny

Plan	Price	Features
Free	$0	Basic job search and application tracking
Premium	$20/month	Includes resume analysis, cover letter generation, and interview prep

Conclusion

From BLS to Ravio, these platforms offer powerful tools for modern salary research. Accurate salary data comes from a mix of sources - BLS provides official government statistics, while platforms like Glassdoor and PayScale deliver real-time, company-specific insights.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how different platforms can serve your salary research needs:

Purpose	Best Platform	Key Advantage
Official Statistics	BLS	Verified government data
Industry Insights	O*NET OnLine	Detailed occupation details
Company-Specific	Glassdoor	Salaries reported by employees
Custom Reports	Salary.com	Tailored compensation analysis
Real-time Trends	Ravio	Up-to-date market trends

AI-powered tools have completely changed how professionals approach salary research and career planning, offering more precision and better data.

To get the most out of your research, follow these steps:

• Cross-check multiple sources: Use at least three platforms to get a comprehensive view.
• Account for location: Factor in cost-of-living differences and local market trends.
• Keep data fresh: Update your salary research every quarter.
• Consider experience levels: Review salary ranges for various experience tiers to understand career growth opportunities.