Estimate your market value with our salary calculator. Get salary ranges by job role, experience level, and location with cost of living adjustments.
The salary calculator estimates compensation for a specific role + level + location combination. Data sources: public salary surveys (BLS, levels.fyi where available), aggregated job-posting data, and anonymous self-reports from ClearHire users. Most popular role / metro / level combinations have 30+ data points; niche roles or smaller metros may have fewer, and the page warns when sample size drops below 10. Estimates are within roughly ±15% for common roles in major metros, wider for niche roles or smaller markets. Always combine the estimate with at least one outside source (Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, BLS) before negotiating. Data refreshes quarterly so post-pandemic compensation shifts and recent industry-wide adjustments stay reflected; older data points get progressively deprioritized in the average to keep estimates current rather than historical.
Use cases
Setting a target salary before applying. Before applying, know the realistic band. Apply with confidence at the top; negotiate from data rather than intuition. Candidates without market data systematically under-negotiate.
Validating a recruiter-provided range. When the recruiter says "the range is $X–$Y", validate against the calculator. If the recruiter range sits below market for the level, push back politely with data or pass.
Comparing offers across different metros. Pair with /salary/cost-of-living to convert numbers into equivalent purchasing power. A $200K NYC offer and a $170K Austin offer can be roughly equivalent in real terms.
How it works
Enter role, level, and location. Be specific. "Senior backend engineer in NYC" produces useful data. "Engineer" returns numbers too noisy to act on.
Review the range with sample size and date. Sample size below 10 = directional only. Date older than 12 months = older market; current numbers may differ.
Cross-check with one outside source. Levels.fyi for tech, BLS for everything else, Glassdoor for general comparison. Two-source agreement is more reliable than any single source.
Combine with /tools/total-comp for full offer comparison. Base alone undersells the package by 30–60%. Total comp is the right comparison number.
Examples
A senior PM checking the band before negotiating. Range for senior PM in target metro is $180K–$230K base. Recruiter offers $190K. Candidate references the data; counters at $215K. Recruiter approves $205K. Without the data, candidate would have accepted the initial offer.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the salary data come from?
A combination of public salary surveys, anonymous self-reports from ClearHire users, and aggregated job-posting data. Each estimate shows sample size and date so you can judge confidence.
How accurate is the salary calculator?
Estimates are within roughly ±15% for common roles in major metros, wider for niche roles or smaller markets. Always combine the estimate with at least one outside source (Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, BLS) before negotiating.
Should I share my expected salary in an application?
Skip salary fields when possible, or give a range based on the calculator + outside sources. State the range as "I am targeting $X to $Y based on market data for this role and location" — never offer a single number first.
Tips
Sample size below 10 is wide — treat as directional only.
Cross-check with at least one outside source before relying on any single estimate.
Combine base ranges with /tools/total-comp; base alone undersells by 30–60%.
Anchor at the top of the band when applying; candidates without data systematically under-negotiate.
Estimates are within ±15% for common roles in major metros; wider for niche or smaller markets.
Data refreshes quarterly; older data points get progressively deprioritized to keep estimates current.