Where does this salary data come from?
Bands are calibrated against three sources: (1) real anonymized offer data from Raffi customers in Q1 2026, (2) Levels.fyi compensation reports cross-checked for the same role × market, and (3) Robert Half's 2026 Salary Guide. We refresh the dataset quarterly — last update was Q1 2026.
How are 'floor', 'median', and 'stretch' defined?
Floor = 25th percentile (a competitive offer for the role × market). Median = 50th percentile (the central tendency — most likely offer). Stretch = 75th percentile (top quartile, typically reserved for candidates who exceed must-have requirements). For senior tech roles, a 90th-percentile 'unicorn' band is shown when there's enough data.
Why don't Glassdoor numbers match yours?
Glassdoor and similar self-report aggregators skew low because the disgruntled-leaver bias dominates submissions. Levels.fyi skews high because it over-indexes on FAANG. Our bands sit between — anchored to actual offer letters across early-stage to enterprise, not just self-report or big-tech.
Does this account for remote vs. on-site?
Yes. Picking a market that supports remote work (e.g. 'US-Remote') returns the blended remote band — typically 8-15% below SF/NYC for the same role but 15-30% above secondary markets like Austin or Denver. This matches the post-2024 'remote convergence' pattern documented in the Levels.fyi 2026 remote pay report.
Should I post the salary band in my JD?
Yes. The 2024 LinkedIn Talent Trends found JDs with salary disclosed get 75% more applications and a 41% higher qualified-applicant rate. Pay-transparency laws now cover 25%+ of US workers (CO, NY, WA, CA, IL, MD, NJ, RI, HI) — disclosure is becoming default. Pair this tool with our JD Generator to do both at once.
What about equity and total comp?
This tool shows cash base salary. For roles where equity is material (early-stage startup engineering, sales leadership), expect total-comp targets 20-50% above the base band depending on round (Seed, Series A, Series B+) and option strike. We're working on an equity-aware total-comp calculator — it'll launch in Q3 2026.
Is the data global or US-only?
Strongest coverage is US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe (Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain). MENA and APAC bands are directional and best validated locally. For markets outside the core dataset, the tool flags 'low confidence' on the result.
How often is this updated?
Quarterly. Each refresh is dated in the methodology section below the calculator. Major market shifts (RIF waves, AI-pricing pressure on engineering, federal pay-band changes) trigger interim refreshes. Last update: Q1 2026.