Salary Benchmark Calculator

Use the Salary Benchmark calculator with your job category, years of experience, state, education, and current salary. It compares you to BLS median wages for that occupation group, adjusted for experience and cost of living. If you are below the state-adjusted median, you may be underpaid relative to the market.

BLS publishes median wages by occupation. The calculator uses these medians and adjusts for experience (0–2 years ≈ 75% of median, 6–10 years ≈ 108%, 16+ ≈ 130%), education, and state cost of living. Select your job category to see the benchmark for your profile.

Aim for the top quartile range shown: roughly 120–135% of the state-adjusted median for your profile. Prepare with BLS data and your experience level. The calculator shows a negotiation target range; use it as a data point, not a guarantee.

Salaries tend to be higher in high-cost states (California, New York, Hawaii) and lower in low-cost states (Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi). The calculator adjusts the national median by state COL so you compare apples to apples. Your "cost-adjusted equivalent" shows what your salary is worth in national-average terms.