Salary Calculators Reveal Median Pay for Workers
Determining Average Wages Surprises Some, Angers Others
Oct 2, 2009
Online salary calculators are the bane of employers worldwide. The reason is simple: they tell hard-working, underpaid employees their true worth based on a variety of factors including job title, years of experience, demographics, and industry. Numerous compensation calculator websites offer workers the opportunity to discover what others in their industry are getting paid and whether they should be paid the same.
Salary.com
This compensation information website features an easy to use salary wizard. At the bottom left of the home page, type the job title and zip code, then click Search. From the list, select the job that most closely defines the position. The site displays compensation information in a bell curve chart showing pay for the lower 10th percentile, median, and 90th percentile. Also view average bonuses, benefits, and bi-weekly paycheck estimate.
The website also partners with the ginormous job search engine Monster. To find median pay using the site, select Advice > Salary & Benefits from the home page top menu. In the Browse Advice box at the top right, select Browse Advice > The Salary Wizard. Enter job title, then zip code or city. Click Search, then click Base Salary Range (free) under the appropriate position description. CNN Money also features a compensation calculator powered by the site.
PayScale
PayScale, an AOL partner, calculates median pay based on location, job title, skills, experience, and education among other factors. From the home page select job candidate, employee, job seeker, or business, then click Continue. The site asks a detailed series of questions ultimately leading to an estimate of median wage for the position.
For a faster, more generalized compensation estimate, visit the AOL Find a Job Salary Center website. In the Salary Calculator box on the left, enter the applicable job title, city, state, then click Continue. A graph displaying typical base wage (ranging from low to high) displays. Note this is only a rough estimate; for a more accurate calculation, add years of experience, then click Continue in the box on the right.
Yet another site partnering with PayScale is the ever-popular search engine Yahoo! which features a robust job searching page that includes a handy compensation calculator. From the home page, click HotJobs in the left-hand navigation pane. At the top of the page, click the Career Tools tab. In the Career Topics box, click Salary. Enter the job title and city, state, or zip code and click Graph to reveal the median pay.
Homefair
Homefair specializes in providing resources to those relocating to another city. Among its numerous calculators, moving tools, school reports, and city reports, the site also provides a handy compensation calculator. From the Homefair home page, click Salary Calculator under Research Your Location. Enter job title and zip code or state/metro area, then click Search. Choose appropriate job level, then click For Individuals: Base pay to display wage information.
A quick check of median wage through online compensation calculators surprises some workers while others grumble at their far lower than average rates. For employees, job seekers, and candidates, these useful career tools provide valuable wage information and help leverage for increased compensation.
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