Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about salary data, BLS methodology, and how WageDex works.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. The OEWS samples over 1.1 million establishments and publishes wage estimates for 800+ occupations across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Participation is mandatory for sampled employers, making this one of the most reliable wage data sources available. WageDex is not affiliated with the BLS.
How current is the salary data?
WageDex displays data from the May 2025 OEWS release, which is the most recent complete dataset published by the BLS. The BLS publishes updated estimates annually, typically in the spring. We update our database when the BLS releases new annual figures.
What is the difference between median and mean salary?
The median salary is the midpoint, half of workers in that occupation earn more and half earn less. The mean (average) is total wages divided by total workers. Mean salaries are typically higher than median salaries because high earners pull the average up. The median is generally the better benchmark for what a 'typical' worker earns; the mean is useful for understanding total labor costs.
Why does the salary for my job look different from what I see on Glassdoor or LinkedIn?
WageDex uses BLS OEWS data, mandatory employer survey data representing actual wages paid. Sites like Glassdoor and LinkedIn Salary use self-reported figures submitted by users. Self-reported salary data can be skewed by selection bias (higher-paid workers may be more likely to share) and is not statistically validated. BLS figures are more representative of what employers actually pay across the full workforce.
Why is salary data missing for some jobs in certain states?
The BLS suppresses estimates when the sample size is too small (fewer than a minimum number of reporting establishments) or when the estimate's relative standard error exceeds acceptable thresholds. This protects establishment confidentiality and prevents publication of statistically unreliable numbers. Suppressed data is shown as 'Data not available' on WageDex.
Do the salaries include bonuses, benefits, or equity?
OEWS data covers straight-time wages and salaries only, it does not include overtime pay, shift differentials, tips, commissions, or non-wage benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, or equity. For occupations where variable pay is a significant portion of total compensation (like sales or finance), actual total compensation may be substantially higher than the wages shown.
Are the salaries adjusted for cost of living?
Raw wage figures are not cost-of-living adjusted, they reflect nominal wages as reported to the BLS. WageDex separately provides purchasing-power comparisons using Regional Price Parities (RPPs) from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which adjust for differences in the cost of goods, services, and housing across metro areas.
Does WageDex cover self-employed workers or freelancers?
No. The OEWS survey covers wage-and-salary employees at non-farm establishments only. Self-employed individuals, independent contractors, business owners, and gig workers are not captured in OEWS data. If you are self-employed, the figures shown represent what salaried employees in comparable roles earn, useful for benchmarking your rates, but not a direct measure of self-employment income.