Methodology

Data source

All national percentile benchmarks are derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 release.

The OEWS program produces employment and wage estimates for over 800 occupations across the United States. It surveys approximately 1.1 million business establishments and is the most comprehensive source of occupational wage data available for the US workforce. State median figures are derived from BLS state-level OEWS estimates.

National percentile calculation

We use key percentile breakpoints from the 2024 BLS OEWS data (10th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 75th, 80th, 90th, 95th, 99th) for the full national workforce. For salary values between these breakpoints, we apply linear interpolation to estimate the percentile.

For example: if the 50th percentile is $59,000 and the 60th percentile is $72,000, a salary of $65,500 would be approximately at the 55th percentile (halfway on a linear scale). Results are rounded to the nearest whole percentile.

State percentile adjustment

To calculate your state percentile, we scale your salary by the ratio of the national median to your state median before applying the national percentile curve. This captures the effect of regional wage levels: the same salary ranks higher in a low-wage state and lower in a high-wage state.

State medians are sourced from BLS state-level OEWS 2024 data covering all 50 states and Washington D.C.

Job category medians

The job category median shown in the comparison grid is the approximate BLS OEWS 2024 median for that broad occupational group. This gives context for how your salary compares within your field, separate from the national and state percentile calculations. The national percentile is always calculated against the full workforce distribution.

Limitations

• This calculator does not adjust for cost of living. A $70,000 salary in San Francisco buys far less than $70,000 in rural Tennessee, but the percentile reflects wage distribution only, not purchasing power.
• The data covers wage and salary workers. Self-employment income and business income are not fully captured in BLS OEWS figures.
• Part-time workers are included in the BLS data and pull down the lower percentiles. If you work part-time, your full-time-equivalent salary will rank higher than the raw figures suggest.
• Salaries above the 99th percentile ($350,000+) use the top breakpoint as a ceiling. The calculator returns 99 for any salary at or above this threshold.
• This tool does not store any data you enter. All calculations happen entirely in your browser.

Not financial advice

This calculator provides context for understanding your salary relative to US workers. It does not constitute financial advice, career advice, or any recommendation to take or refrain from any action. Salary negotiation and career decisions should be informed by multiple data sources and your specific circumstances.