Compare salaries across U.S. states, metro areas, and job categories using employer-posted salary ranges. Use the salary range view to see lower [P25], typical [median], and higher [P95] salary levels when deciding where to apply, whether to relocate, and what compensation to target in interviews based on your experience and skill level.
Data updated: May 9, 2026
Uses U.S. government BEA price data to estimate what salary levels are worth after local costs (metro views use the matching state benchmark).
Categories
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Category by State (Median Salary)
No data
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Category Salary Range (P25 • Median • P95)
Sample density Low → High
FAQ
How should job seekers use this explorer?
Use it to compare salary ranges across professions, evaluate location options across states and metros, and set realistic target salary ranges before you apply or negotiate. In state view, you can compare broad category-level salary differences across U.S. markets; in metro view, you can compare specific labor markets directly (for example, New York City vs San Francisco), which often reveals differences that state-level averages can hide. You can also pair these results with the cost-of-living view for purchasing-power context.
What do lower [P25], typical [median], and higher [P95] mean?
Lower [P25] represents the lower end of observed salary ranges, typical [median] is the midpoint, and higher [P95] reflects the upper end. Together, these levels help you set salary expectations and compare opportunities across locations and categories.
What salary data is used in this explorer?
This tool uses current U.S. job postings that include employer-posted salary ranges, grouped by job category, state, and metro area.
Does this include bonuses or equity?
No. The analysis focuses on base salary ranges posted in job listings and generally excludes equity, bonuses, and other variable compensation.
Why do salaries vary by state and metro area?
Variation is driven by local demand, employer mix, industry concentration, hiring competition, and cost-of-living differences across labor markets.
Methodology
Data reflects employer-posted base salary ranges in job postings, not realized total compensation. Values are normalized to annualized USD salary ranges where possible and aggregated by category, geography, and percentile bands. When cost-of-living adjustment is enabled, we apply BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) to estimate location-adjusted salary comparisons. Equity compensation, performance bonuses, sign-on bonuses, and other variable pay components are generally not included.
Regional charts use available salary observations per category-market cell. Salary transparency requirements vary by state, so coverage is materially more complete in some states than others. When viewed on mobile, the geography chart may default to top regions by sample count to preserve readability unless specific regions are selected.