Transparent method. Defensible outputs.

How Salary Coach works

We turn BLS OEWS wage percentiles into clear ranges you can use—by state or metro (MSA)—with optional adjustments for hours and markup for employer benefits.

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BLS-backed

Latest OEWS percentiles

State & MSA

Local labor markets

CPA-grade memo

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What is BLS OEWS?

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program estimates annual wages for hundreds of occupations. Data are published for the nation, states, and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas. We use the latest release and official BLS titles so your documentation aligns with federal sources.

Geographies: State vs. MSA

MSA (metro)

Local labor market estimates for a specific metropolitan area. Best for city-level precision and defensibility when the work is tied to a particular metro.

Statewide

Broader benchmark across the state. Useful when a role is distributed within the state or metro data are unavailable.

In the Estimator, pick an occupation first, then select a state and (optionally) a metro (MSA) in that state.

Percentiles explained

25th percentile — conservative lower bound (entry-level scopes or simpler roles).
50th percentile (median) — typical pay for the occupation in the selected geography.
75th percentile — more experienced talent, broader scopes, or competitive markets.

Paid plans can include 10th and 90th percentiles or let you pick custom sets for the memo and compare views.

Adjustments: hours & seniority

Hours per week

We scale annual wages from a 40-hour baseline. Example: 20 hours ≈ half the listed wage.

Seniority

A light multiplier (junior/mid/senior) to nudge the band up/down—useful for quick scenario planning.

Markup for employer benefits (optional)

OEWS wages are cash compensation only. If you check “Include markup for employer benefits,” we add a percentage to estimate total employer cost (salary + employer-paid taxes, healthcare, retirement match, workers’ comp, and other fringes).

Lean

15–20%

Typical

~30%

Rich

40%+

Paid plans include presets and (later) an advanced breakdown by component.

Limitations & good practice

Use the closest matching official occupation title for best results.
Expect variation by company size, industry niche, and skill mix—OEWS is statistical.
Document your assumptions (scope, level, geo, benefits) in the memo for defensibility.

Sources

Open the Estimator