Our Methodology
Where the numbers come from
Every salary figure on this site is a modeled estimate built from three primary public data sources:
- US occupation baselines — median pay per profession, informed by US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics releases.
- World Bank indicators — GDP per capita (PPP), consumer price inflation, and population for every country we cover, refreshed from the World Bank Open Data API.
- Daily exchange rates — local currency conversion uses rates updated daily.
The wage model
To estimate what a profession pays in a given country, we scale the US baseline by the country's relative income level (GDP per capita, PPP) with a wage elasticity factor of 0.85 — reflecting the well-documented fact that wages do not scale one-to-one with national income. For highly remote-friendly professions (software, design, writing), we blend in a global-market component, because these workers increasingly compete in an international labour market that pulls pay toward global rates.
Experience-level figures apply multipliers to the mid-career median: entry level (~0.68x), senior (~1.38x), lead (~1.72x), and executive (~2.25x), consistent with progression patterns in large-scale salary surveys.
Tax estimates
Take-home estimates use simplified three-bracket progressive approximations calibrated to each country's income level. They are indicative only — actual tax depends on personal circumstances, deductions, and social contributions. Always consult a local tax professional.
What this means for you
Modeled estimates are most useful for comparison — between countries, professions, and experience levels — because the same methodology applies everywhere. For any single figure, treat the number as a central estimate within a realistic range, and cross-check against local job postings when negotiating.
Update cadence
Exchange rates refresh daily. World Bank indicators refresh as new annual data is published. Occupation baselines are reviewed against each BLS OES release. Every page shows its last-updated date.
Primary sources
Questions about the data? See our about page.