Best Salary Research Websites: 12 Places to Check Pay Before You Negotiate
A curated salary research guide comparing BLS, OEWS, Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, CareerOneStop, O*NET, job postings, and Talenivo salary pages.
Quick answer
The best salary research stack combines public wage data and market-reported compensation. Use BLS OOH and OEWS for official U.S. occupation wage baselines, Talenivo salary pages for role pages connected to job-search workflows, CareerOneStop and O*NET for job context, Glassdoor for employee-reported salary and company context, Levels.fyi for tech compensation by level, and job postings for current employer ranges. Never rely on one number; compare base salary, total compensation, geography, seniority, sample size, and date.
Key takeaways
- Use official public data for baseline, not final negotiation numbers.
- Use employee-reported tools for company and level context, but check sample size and recency.
- Use job postings to understand current employer ranges and pay transparency language.
- For tech roles, total compensation can differ sharply from base salary; include equity and bonus context.
- For non-tech roles, BLS and OEWS are often better baselines than crowdsourced company tools.
- Use Talenivo salary pages before applying so resume targeting and negotiation expectations match the role.
- Build a salary range, not a single target number.
Salary Research Source Shortlist
| Source | Best for | Use it to answer | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook | Official role-level U.S. wage and outlook baseline | What is the median pay and growth context for this occupation? | It is broad and may not capture company-specific compensation. |
| BLS OEWS tables | Detailed wage estimates by occupation and geography | What do wages look like by state, metro, or occupation? | Data may lag current postings. |
| Talenivo salary pages | Job-search-friendly role pages connected to resumes and examples | How should I connect pay context to application strategy? | Use alongside postings and company-specific data. |
| Glassdoor | Company salary estimates and employee-reported context | What do people report for this company, title, or location? | Check sample size, date, and title match. |
| Levels.fyi | Technology compensation by company, level, and total comp | What does base, bonus, and equity look like for tech roles? | Best fit for tech and larger compensation datasets. |
| Job postings | Current employer ranges | What range is this employer signaling right now? | Ranges can be wide, location-dependent, or tied to seniority. |
The Salary Triangulation Method
Salary research works best when you triangulate. One number can be misleading because each source measures something different. BLS gives broad occupation data. Glassdoor and Levels.fyi reflect self-reported or modeled market context. Job postings show what employers are currently willing or required to publish.
Your negotiation range should come from overlap, not optimism. Look for where official data, company data, and current postings agree.
Negotiation research
Build your salary range from 3 evidence layers
Use overlap across sources before you name a number.
3
evidence layers
Official baseline
BLSUse BLS OOH and OEWS for occupation, location, and wage floor context.
Market reports
CrowdUse Glassdoor and Levels.fyi to understand company, level, and total comp patterns.
Live demand
PostsUse current job postings to see what employers are advertising now.
Your proof
LeverageYour final ask should match scope, outcomes, rarity, location, and alternatives.
The strongest negotiation range sits where external data and your evidence overlap.
What to Compare Before Naming a Number
- Base salary versus total compensation.
- Bonus, commission, equity, overtime, shift differentials, and benefits.
- Remote location rules and geographic pay adjustments.
- Seniority level, years of experience, team scope, and required credentials.
- Company size, funding stage, industry, and revenue model.
- Sample size and recency for crowdsourced salary tools.
- Whether the role is exempt, nonexempt, full-time, contractor, or freelance.
Best Salary Sources by Role Type
| Role type | Best starting sources | Extra context |
|---|---|---|
| Software and data | Levels.fyi, BLS, Talenivo salaries, job postings | Separate base, bonus, equity, and level. |
| Healthcare | BLS OEWS, employer postings, state and metro data | Check license, shift, specialty, union, and location. |
| Sales | Job postings, Glassdoor, company plans, Talenivo examples | Separate base, commission, quota, accelerators, and territory. |
| Admin and operations | BLS, local postings, CareerOneStop, Talenivo salary pages | Compare local market and scope carefully. |
| Startups | Wellfound, Levels.fyi for tech, postings, company stage research | Compare cash, equity, runway, and title inflation. |
30-Minute Salary Research Workflow
- [ ] Open the Talenivo salary page closest to the role.
- [ ] Check BLS OOH or OEWS for official occupation baseline.
- [ ] Search current postings for three comparable roles in your location or remote market.
- [ ] Check Glassdoor or Levels.fyi if the company or role has enough data.
- [ ] Write a low, target, and stretch range.
- [ ] List three proof points from your resume that support the target range.
- [ ] Prepare a script before the recruiter call.
Recommended Talenivo workflows
Role research
Resume examples
FAQ
What salary website is most accurate?
Accuracy depends on the role and question. BLS is strong for official occupation baselines, Levels.fyi is useful for tech total compensation, Glassdoor can help with company context, and job postings show current employer ranges.
Should I use salary websites in negotiation?
Yes, but use them as supporting evidence. Your strongest negotiation comes from combining market data with your specific impact, scope, and alternatives.
How many salary sources should I check?
Check at least three: an official baseline, a market-reported source, and current job postings. More sources help when the range is wide or the title is ambiguous.
What is the difference between salary and total compensation?
Salary usually means base pay. Total compensation can include base salary, bonus, commission, equity, overtime, benefits, and other cash or noncash value.
Sources checked
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Used for official occupation wage and outlook context.
- BLS OEWS Tables - Used for wage estimates by occupation and area.
- Glassdoor Salaries - Checked for salary estimation and company salary research positioning.
- Levels.fyi - Checked for technology compensation and level-based salary research.
- CareerOneStop - Used for public career and salary research context.
- O*NET OnLine - Used for role duties and skills context.