Glassdoor Salaries: How to Research Company Compensation

What Is Glassdoor and Why Use It for Salary Research?

Glassdoor is a leading job and recruiting platform where employees anonymously share salary information, company reviews, interview experiences, and benefits details. It's become an essential resource for job seekers, negotiators, and career planners.

Glassdoor offers salary estimates based on anonymous user-submitted data, providing insights into salaries, bonuses, and total compensation packages for different roles at specific companies. Unlike government data (BLS), Glassdoor provides company-level detail.

Key Advantages of Glassdoor

Real employee data: Actual compensation reported by employees, not just job posting ranges

Company-specific: See what Google, Amazon, or your target employer actually pays

Total compensation: Includes bonuses, equity, and benefits information

Integrated context: Company reviews and culture insights alongside salary data

Filtering options: Filter by location, experience level, company size, and industry

Glassdoor is essential for salary negotiation, job search strategy, and market research for both job seekers and employers.

How Glassdoor Collects Salary Data

Understanding data sources helps you interpret the information accurately.

Data Sources

Anonymous employee submissions: Users share salary info in exchange for accessing other salary data. This is the primary data source.

Algorithmic estimates: Glassdoor uses machine learning to estimate salaries based on submitted data, filling gaps where direct submissions are limited.

Company-submitted data: Some employers provide official compensation information to attract candidates and improve accuracy.

Data Quality Considerations

Sample size matters: Accuracy depends on sufficient submissions. 100+ reports = very reliable; <10 reports = use caution.

Recency: Some data may be months or years old. Fast-changing markets (especially tech) may have outdated info.

Self-reporting bias: High earners or dissatisfied employees may be overrepresented, potentially skewing data.

Role inconsistency: "Software Engineer" at one company may not equal "Software Engineer" at another in scope or seniority.

Glassdoor aggregates and anonymizes data to protect individual privacy—no employer can identify who submitted specific salary information.

Step-by-Step: How to Use Glassdoor for Salary Research

A detailed guide to researching compensation effectively:

Step 1: Access Glassdoor Salaries

Navigate to Glassdoor.com and click "Salaries" in the main navigation, or go directly to glassdoor.com/Salaries. Note: You may need to create a free account or contribute your own salary data to access full details.

Step 2: Search for Your Target Role

Enter the job title (e.g., "Software Engineer," "Marketing Manager," "Registered Nurse") and location (city, state, or nationwide). Click Search.

Step 3: Review Salary Overview

Glassdoor displays: base salary range (e.g., $80K–$120K), average/median salary, additional compensation (bonuses, profit sharing, commissions, stock), and number of salary reports (indicates data reliability).

Step 4: Use Filters to Refine Results

Location: Filter by specific city, metro area, or remote positions

Experience level: Entry-level, mid-level, senior, executive

Company size: Startup, small, mid-size, enterprise

Industry: Technology, healthcare, finance, etc.

Company: Search specific employers (e.g., "Google Software Engineer salary")

Step 5: Analyze Salary Distribution

Look at percentile breakdown (25th, 50th, 75th percentile) to identify low, median, and high ranges. Compare base salary vs. total compensation—total is often 20–40% higher with bonuses and equity.

Step 6: Read Individual Salary Reports

Click individual reports to see: years of experience, education level, skills mentioned, and additional context from the submitter. This context helps assess if data applies to your situation.

Step 7: Compare Across Companies

Use the "Compare" feature to see how different employers pay for the same role. Example: Compare "Amazon vs Google vs Microsoft" for Software Engineer.

Step 8: Review Related Data

Check company reviews (work-life balance, culture affects total value), read benefits reviews (health insurance, 401k match, PTO add significant value), and look at interview difficulty ratings (competitive roles often correlate with higher pay).

Understanding Glassdoor Salary Data: Key Metrics Explained

Know what each number means:

Base Salary

Regular annual or hourly pay before bonuses, commissions, or equity. This is the most commonly reported and compared metric.

Additional Cash Compensation

Bonuses: Annual performance bonuses, signing bonuses

Commissions: Common in sales roles

Profit sharing: Company profit distribution

Equity/Stock Compensation

Stock options, RSUs (Restricted Stock Units)—common at tech companies. Can significantly increase total compensation, especially at startups and FAANG companies.

Total Compensation

Base salary + cash bonuses + estimated equity value. This is the most accurate representation of actual earnings.

Salary Range (25th–75th Percentile)

25th percentile: Lower-paid employees (entry-level or small companies)

Median (50th): Middle of distribution

75th percentile: Higher-paid employees (senior or large companies)

Number of Reports

Indicates data reliability. 100+ reports = very reliable data. 50–100 = reasonably reliable. <10 reports = use caution, may not represent true range.

Glassdoor vs. Other Salary Research Tools

Compare Glassdoor with alternatives to get the most complete picture:

When to Use Each Tool

Glassdoor: Best for company-specific research, understanding total compensation packages, and negotiation preparation

Indeed: Good for broad market ranges and job search integration

LinkedIn: Useful for professional context and networking around compensation

Levels.fyi: Essential for tech roles—most accurate equity data

BLS: Best for official, unbiased industry-wide data

Best Practice: Cross-Reference

Use multiple sources for the most accurate picture. Triangulating data from Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, and BLS helps identify outliers and builds confidence in your salary research.

Tips for Accurate Salary Research on Glassdoor

Maximize the value of your research:

Check Sample Size

Look for roles with 50+ salary reports for reliable data. Be cautious with <10 reports—may not represent true range.

Filter by Experience Level

Entry-level salaries differ dramatically from senior roles. Make sure comparison is apples-to-apples for your experience.

Consider Geographic Location

Salaries vary 30–100% by location (San Francisco vs. rural areas). Adjust for cost of living differences when comparing.

Look at Date of Reports

Prioritize recent submissions (last 12–24 months). Older data may not reflect current market rates, especially in fast-moving industries.

Compare Total Compensation, Not Just Base

Tech roles especially: equity can double total comp. Sales roles: commissions can exceed base salary. Focus on total compensation for the full picture.

Read Contextual Details

Individual salary reports often include years of experience, education, and skills. This context helps assess if data applies to your situation.

Factor in Benefits

Health insurance, 401k match, PTO, and remote work add 20–40% value beyond salary. Glassdoor benefits reviews provide this context.

Using Glassdoor Data for Salary Negotiation

How to leverage your research in negotiations:

Prepare Your Case

Print or screenshot Glassdoor salary data for your role, location, and experience level. Highlight the 75th percentile if you have strong qualifications. Show total compensation ranges, not just base.

Frame Your Ask

Example script: "Based on Glassdoor data for [Role] in [Location] with [X years experience], the market range is $X–$Y. I'm targeting the upper end of this range based on my [specific skills/achievements]."

Include Company-Specific Data

If Glassdoor shows this specific company pays $X for your role, cite it: "Glassdoor shows [Company Name] pays $X–$Y for this position."

Account for Total Compensation

If base salary is lower than market, negotiate signing bonus, equity, or performance bonus. Reference: "I see the average total compensation is $X including bonuses."

Be Ready for Pushback

Employers know about Glassdoor. If they say "That data may not be accurate," counter with: "I've cross-referenced with Indeed, LinkedIn, and BLS, and the ranges are consistent."

For comprehensive negotiation strategies, see our salary negotiation guide.

Limitations and Considerations of Glassdoor Data

Understand the caveats for best results:

Self-Reporting Bias

High earners or dissatisfied employees may be overrepresented, potentially skewing data higher or lower than reality.

Sample Size Issues

Small companies or niche roles have limited data. Low sample size means less reliable estimates.

Geographic Granularity

Some locations have sparse data. May aggregate metro area vs. specific city differently than you need.

Role Title Inconsistency

"Software Engineer" at one company may not equal "Software Engineer" at another in responsibilities or seniority level.

Lagging Data

Submissions may be months or years old. Fast-changing markets (especially tech) may have outdated information.

Equity Valuation

Stock/option values are estimated and may not reflect actual vesting schedules or current stock prices.

Despite limitations, Glassdoor remains one of the best free tools for salary research when used carefully and cross-referenced with other sources.

How Employers Use Glassdoor Salary Data

Understanding the employer side can help your negotiation:

Market Research

Employers use Glassdoor to benchmark compensation against competitors. They understand market rates and often use this data to set salary ranges.

Benefits Comparison

Companies monitor what benefits competitors offer and adjust offerings to stay competitive in talent acquisition.

Employer Branding

Employers monitor company reviews and ratings. Some respond to salary complaints or misconceptions publicly.

Official Data Submission

Some employers submit official compensation data to Glassdoor to improve accuracy and attract candidates. This data tends to be more reliable.

Key insight: Employers expect candidates to research salaries. Coming prepared with data demonstrates professionalism and market awareness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Glassdoor salary data accurate?

Glassdoor data is generally reliable for roles with 50+ reports at larger companies. Accuracy decreases with fewer submissions. Cross-reference with other sources (Indeed, LinkedIn, BLS) for best results. The data reflects self-reported information, which may have biases.

Do I need to pay for Glassdoor?

Basic salary data is free, but Glassdoor uses a "give to get" model—you may need to contribute your own salary information or write a review to access unlimited data. No paid subscription is required for most salary research.

How do I contribute salary data to Glassdoor?

Create a free account, then navigate to "Contribute" and select "Add Salary." You'll enter your job title, company, location, base salary, bonuses, and any additional compensation. The submission is anonymous.

Can employers see who submitted salary data?

No. Glassdoor aggregates and anonymizes all submissions. Employers cannot identify individual contributors. Your identity is protected.

What's better: Glassdoor or Indeed for salary research?

Glassdoor is better for company-specific salaries and total compensation details. Indeed is better for broad market ranges and job search integration. Best practice: use both for comprehensive research.