Why We Built SalaryMap
SalaryMap exists because salary secrecy is broken. In most companies, you're told not to discuss your pay with coworkers. That benefits one party: the employer. When workers can't compare salaries, they can't negotiate fairly — and pay gaps widen, especially for women and minorities.
We built SalaryMap out of frustration with that culture. Every number on this site is sourced from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics — public data that your employer hopes you never find.
Know your worth. Negotiate confidently. Share this with your coworkers.
“Pay transparency is a right, not a privilege.”
Our Data
Source: All salary figures come from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — the most comprehensive, authoritative source of wage data in the United States. This data is collected annually from hundreds of thousands of employers across every industry.
Methodology: We use BLS median annual wage figures as our primary data point. Entry-level salaries represent approximately the 10th percentile of earners, while senior-level figures represent the 90th percentile. Hourly rates are derived by dividing the annual median by 2,080 hours (a standard 40-hour work week).
State estimates: State-by-state salary figures are estimated using cost-of-living index adjustments applied to the national median. States with higher costs of living (like California and New York) tend to have higher nominal wages, while states with lower costs of living tend to have lower nominal wages. These are estimates — actual salaries vary by employer, experience level, and local market conditions.
Freshness: Data is updated annually. Current figures reflect 2025 BLS occupational employment statistics.
Ready to know your worth?
Browse salary data for 244+ careers, or use our tools to calculate take-home pay, compare cost of living, or prep for your next negotiation.