Data Sources & Methodology

Transparency is core to our mission. This page explains where our salary data comes from and how we present it. National occupation wage figures on SalaryMetro come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Metro-level, city, and state figures are modeled estimates derived from those national medians and regional cost factors — not direct BLS metro observations.

Read this first: which numbers are measured

Measured: the national median annual wage for each occupation. That figure comes straight from the BLS OEWS survey.

Modeled estimates: every metro, city, and state salary on this site, along with the percentile range and employment count shown next to it. We calculate them from the national OEWS median and a regional wage/cost-of-living factor. They are useful for seeing the direction and rough scale of local pay differences, but they are not surveyed local wages and should not be cited as BLS metro data.

1.1M+

Establishments Surveyed

800+

Occupations Covered

2026

Current Data Year

50

States + DC

Primary Data Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Our national occupation wage figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, the most comprehensive and authoritative source of occupational wage data in the United States. Metro-level figures on this site are estimates we derive from those national medians, not figures published by the BLS for each metro area.

Visit BLS OEWS Program

About the OEWS Program

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program is a federal-state cooperative program that produces employment and wage estimates for over 800 occupations. The program surveys approximately 1.1 million establishments over a three-year period, making it the largest employer survey conducted by the BLS.

OEWS Survey Methodology

  • •Survey size: Approximately 200,000 establishments surveyed twice per year
  • •Reference period: Data reflects May of each reference year
  • •Geographic coverage: National, state, and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas
  • •Industry coverage: Nonfarm establishments across all industries except self-employed workers

Supplementary Data Sources

Our career guides and analysis also reference supplementary data sources to provide comprehensive career insights:

Glassdoor

Self-reported salary data from current and former employees. Useful for understanding company-specific compensation and total compensation breakdowns including bonuses, stock options, and benefits. We use Glassdoor data to supplement BLS statistics with company-level insights and recent market trends.

Payscale

Crowdsourced compensation database with detailed information on how skills, certifications, and experience affect pay. Payscale's methodology includes normalization for cost of living and provides granular insights on salary factors that BLS aggregate data doesn't capture.

LinkedIn Salary

Compensation data from LinkedIn's 900+ million members. Particularly valuable for technology and professional roles with strong LinkedIn presence. Provides insights on salary by company size, years of experience, and specific skills.

H1B Visa Salary Database

Public disclosure data from H1B visa applications provides exact salary information for specific roles at specific companies, particularly valuable for technology positions. This is actual wage data that employers must submit to the Department of Labor.

How We Present Data

How Metro, City, and State Figures Are Estimated

We do not load a separate BLS wage observation for every occupation in every metro area. Instead, we start from the national OEWS median for the occupation and apply a regional factor built from local wage differentials and cost-of-living indexes. The result is our estimated local median. The percentile range on those pages is derived from the estimated median as a fixed proportion rather than measured separately, and the employment count is a modeled estimate of local market size, not a BLS-published count.

This approach lets us cover far more occupation-and-location combinations than the BLS publishes, but it means local figures carry model error on top of survey error. Use them to compare locations at a glance; use the national median, and the BLS or a local salary survey, when you need a defensible number.

Salary Statistics Explained

On each salary page, you'll see several statistical measures. Here's what they mean:

Median (50th Percentile)
The middle value - half of workers earn more, half earn less. This is typically the most representative measure of "typical" salary for an occupation.
25th Percentile
25% of workers earn less than this amount. Often represents entry-level or less experienced workers in the field.
75th Percentile
25% of workers earn more than this amount. Often represents experienced workers or those with specialized skills.
10th and 90th Percentile
The extreme ends of the salary distribution. The 10th percentile shows what the lowest-paid 10% earn, while the 90th percentile shows what the highest-paid 10% earn.
Employment Count
A modeled estimate of the number of people employed in this occupation in the geographic area. Helps gauge relative job availability and market size; it is not a BLS-published employment figure.

Data Update Frequency

BLS releases new OEWS data annually, typically in March or April, reflecting wages from May of the previous year. We update our database within 30 days of each new BLS release to ensure you have access to the most current official salary data available.

Limitations and Disclaimers

Important Considerations

  • Individual variation: Your actual salary may differ from these statistics based on your specific experience, education, certifications, negotiation skills, and employer.
  • Time lag: BLS data reflects wages from May of the reference year and is published 10-11 months later. Recent market changes may not be reflected.
  • Base salary only: BLS data reflects base wages and does not include bonuses, stock options, benefits, or other forms of compensation.
  • Modeled local figures: BLS suppresses metro data where sample sizes are too small to produce reliable estimates. Rather than leave those gaps blank, we show a modeled estimate derived from the national median and a regional factor. Local figures on this site therefore carry model error and are not BLS metro observations.

Using Salary Data Responsibly

We provide this salary information to help you make informed career decisions, but we strongly recommend:

  • Use multiple sources: Cross-reference BLS data with Glassdoor, Payscale, LinkedIn, and professional networks to get a complete picture.
  • Consider total compensation: Factor in bonuses, equity, benefits, PTO, and non-monetary perks when evaluating job offers.
  • Account for cost of living: A $100,000 salary in San Francisco has very different purchasing power than $100,000 in Nashville.
  • Talk to people in the field: Connect with professionals in your target role to understand real-world compensation and career progression.

Why We Use BLS Data

While many salary websites rely on crowdsourced or self-reported data, we chose to build SalaryMetroprimarily on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for several important reasons:

Scientific Methodology

BLS uses rigorous, scientifically-designed survey methodology with stratified random sampling to ensure statistically valid estimates. Self-reported data on other sites can be skewed by who chooses to submit their salary.

Employer-Verified Data

BLS surveys employers directly about their payroll, not employees recalling their salary. This eliminates errors from memory, misunderstanding of compensation, or intentional inflation/deflation of reported wages.

Massive Sample Size

With 1.1 million establishments surveyed over a three-year cycle, BLS data represents the most comprehensive occupational wage collection effort in the United States. This scale ensures reliable estimates even for less common occupations.

Standardized Definitions

BLS uses the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, ensuring consistent definitions of job titles across all data. When you look up "Software Developer" on our site, it means exactly the same thing as in any other BLS-based resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does SalaryMetro salary data come from?

National occupation wage figures on SalaryMetro come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. This federal-state cooperative program surveys approximately 1.1 million business establishments over a three-year period, making it the most comprehensive occupational wage data source in the United States. Metro-level, city, and state figures are modeled estimates: we adjust the national OEWS median using regional wage differentials and cost-of-living indexes, so they show the direction and rough scale of local pay differences, not surveyed local wages.

Are metro and city salaries actual BLS metro data?

No. Only the national median for each occupation is a measured BLS OEWS figure. Metro, city, and state salaries here are modeled estimates derived from that national median and a regional cost factor. The percentile range shown on those pages is a fixed proportion of the estimated median rather than a separately measured distribution, and employment counts are estimates. Always treat the national median as the measured number.

How often is BLS salary data updated?

The BLS releases new OEWS data annually, typically in March or April, reflecting wages from May of the previous year. We update our database within 30 days of each new BLS release to ensure you have access to the most current official salary data available.

What is included in BLS wage data?

BLS wage estimates include base rate of pay, cost-of-living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and production bonuses), and tips. The data does NOT include overtime pay, severance, tuition reimbursement, or non-cash benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, or stock options.

How reliable is Bureau of Labor Statistics data?

BLS data is considered the gold standard for occupational wage statistics in the United States. The OEWS program uses scientifically-designed survey methodology, strict quality control measures, and surveys approximately 1.1 million establishments to produce statistically valid estimates. The data is used by federal agencies, researchers, economists, and businesses for policy decisions and planning.

Learn More About Salary Data

For a deeper understanding of how to interpret salary statistics, percentiles, and cost of living adjustments, visit our comprehensive guide on understanding salary data.

Read the Complete Guide

Questions About Our Data?

If you have questions about our data sources, methodology, or how to interpret salary statistics, please visit our contact page. We are committed to transparency and helping you understand the data we present.