How to Research a Salary Before You Apply or Negotiate
Knowing the realistic pay range for a job is the foundation of every good negotiation. These are the most reliable free sources, how to read them, and how to turn them into a number you can defend.
The single most useful thing you can bring to a job application or a pay conversation is a realistic idea of what the role pays. Without it, you risk asking for too little, or pricing yourself out of a job you could have had.
The good news is that you can build a solid estimate in under an hour using free, public data. Here is how.
Step 1: Start with government wage data
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics runs the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers about what they pay. It publishes wages for hundreds of occupations, broken down by state, metro area and industry.
The most useful part is the percentiles. OEWS reports the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th and 90th percentile wages. That shows you the spread:
- The 10th to 25th percentile is typical for people new to the role.
- The median is the midpoint: half earn more, half earn less.
- The 75th to 90th percentile is typical for experienced people, specialists and high-cost locations.
Find your occupation, then switch to your metro area. Pay for the same job can differ a lot between cities. CareerOneStop, a Department of Labor site, offers a simpler search over similar data.
Keep in mind that government data lags. Figures describe a past reference period, so in a period of fast wage growth they can run a little low.
Step 2: Check posted pay ranges
A growing number of states and cities, including Colorado, California, Washington, New York and Illinois, require many employers to include a pay range in job postings. Even if you live elsewhere, remote postings from employers covered by those laws often include ranges.
Search for your target job title and collect the ranges from 10 or more postings at similar employers. Note the company size and industry. Large employers and certain industries tend to pay more for the same title.
Treat posted ranges with a little care. Some are very wide, and many employers hire new staff in the lower half of the range so there is room to grow.
Step 3: Look for employer-specific data
If you are applying to a particular company, look for data about that employer:
- Its own postings. The same company often posts similar roles with ranges.
- Public filings. Employers that sponsor certain work visas must disclose the wages they offer, and the Department of Labor publishes that data. It is a useful check on what a specific company pays for a specific title.
- Self-reported salary sites. These can add color about bonuses and total compensation, but samples can be small and unverified, so do not rely on them alone.
Step 4: Adjust for your situation
Now place yourself in the range. Move up if you have more experience than the role asks for, specialized or hard-to-find skills, relevant certifications, or a strong record of results you can show. Move down, at least for a first offer, if you are changing fields or meet only the basic requirements.
Also consider the whole package. Health insurance, retirement matching, bonuses, paid leave and remote work can be worth thousands of dollars a year.
Step 5: Turn it into a range you can defend
Bring a range, not a single number, and anchor it slightly above where you would be happy. Be ready to explain it in one or two sentences, for example: "Based on the posted ranges for similar roles in this area and my five years of experience, I'm looking for between X and Y."
A number backed by two or three credible sources is far harder to dismiss than a guess.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most reliable free source of salary data?
For US jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program is the most comprehensive free source. It reports wages by occupation, industry, state and metro area, including percentiles, based on a large survey of employers.
Should I name a salary number first?
If the posting includes a range, you already have the employer's number. If it does not, it is usually better to ask for the budgeted range first. If you must answer, give a researched range rather than a single figure.
Why do salary websites show different numbers for the same job?
They use different data. Some rely on self-reported salaries, some on job postings and some on employer surveys, and they define job titles differently. That is why it helps to compare several sources.