Information entered into Glassdoor.com is crowdsourced and unverified. While some of the salary information posted on the website may be accurate, some of it is not. Career seekers looking for specific salary information should browse several websites such as Payscale.com and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website to get as accurate a salary picture as possible.
Key Takeaways
- Glassdoor salary information is self-reported and not verified, therefore some salaries are likely not correct.
- The better sources are the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale.com.
- Salary details on Glassdoor are more likely to be accurate for larger companies with many reviews versus smaller companies.
Crowdsourced Career Site
Glassdoor, a tech company founded by Robert Hohman, Rich Barton, and Tim Besse and headquartered in Mill Valley, Calif., burst on the scene in 2007 as a one-stop-shop for people looking to make career decisions. At the time, the website was seen as innovative because it included information about companies that career seekers were looking for but could not find on other websites.
In particular, Glassdoor sought feedback from insiders—company employees—about benefits, interview practices, and leadership. Users even uploaded snapshots of their workplace interiors.
Salary is often the most guarded piece of information held by companies, but Glassdoor lifted the veil of secrecy by making it possible for users to report the amounts of money they earned. The most important reason users post information considered private, such as their salaries, is because Glassdoor allows them to do so anonymously.
Glassdoor also offers services to employers seeking to use the brand approach to attract talent. The company provides tools for employers to post open positions and a platform on which to market their brands. This aspect of Glassdoor’s business has drawn criticism about the accuracy of surveys, salary information and the rose-colored picture some of the site’s users paint about their employers. Glassdoor’s toughest critics assert that some employers may have influence over the information that users post about them.
Accuracy Questions
While some Glassdoor users share accurate information about their salaries, some users do not. Experts note that the website attracts employees who may be dissatisfied with their jobs, who use the website as a place to rant or vent grievances. There’s also no way to confirm which data is current and whether a company has increased or decreased a salary for a position since the time the user made the entry.
Consulting Additional Sources
Career seekers should not dismiss Glassdoor salary information because some of it is accurate; it is just not easy to know how much of it is accurate. Salary averages for positions at large corporations on the website are more likely to be accurate than averages posted for positions at small companies.
Generally, the larger the data sample, the more accurate the information. Some classified ads and job postings on company websites include salary, and this information can be compared to information on Glassdoor to confirm whether Glassdoor’s salary information is accurate.
Other Options
Payscale.com may be a better option for salary data. The company is a compensation software company that helps businesses get up-to-date and accurate info on average salaries and compensation. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics offers salary data based on job, industry, and location, among other areas.
FAQs
Glassdoor salary information is self-reported and not verified, therefore some salaries are likely not correct. The better sources are the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale.com. Salary details on Glassdoor are more likely to be accurate for larger companies with many reviews versus smaller companies.
Are the salaries on Glassdoor accurate? ›
The purpose of salary estimates is to use predictive data science to provide job seekers a likely salary range so they can make more informed job decisions, and help employers recruit informed and quality candidates. For this reason, Glassdoor does not guarantee the accuracy of estimates.
What is the most reliable salary website? ›
We've created a list of the best salary sites to assist you in your research.
- Glassdoor. Glassdoor is a job search site for both job seekers and employers. ...
- Indeed. Indeed strives to put job seekers first with the mission of helping them get jobs. ...
- LinkedIn. ...
- Monster. ...
- ZipRecruiter. ...
- CareerBuilder. ...
- Built In. ...
- SalaryExpert.
This is a required field but we have measures in place to ensure your anonymity. We never display personal information with your salary.
Is Glassdoor reviews accurate? ›
Should reviews on Glassdoor and elsewhere be trusted? Yes, if we're wise. In an article for Inc., HR writer Suzanne Lucas has shared some tips. Watch for clusters of reviews, all posted during the same week, same month, or even the same day, especially if they are all positive.
What is a reliable source for salary information? ›
Where can I locate resources for salary survey data for all industries and occupations? One of the largest and most comprehensive sources of free salary information is the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Do employers know if you post on Glassdoor? ›
Nobody, including your employer, will be able to see your email address, social media profiles, or any other personal information you provide—either in your user profile or your resume. Here are a few things to keep in mind about your anonymity when using Glassdoor: Fields with an asterisk (*) are required fields.
What salary is a good salary? ›
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average salary in 2021 was $58,260. Although wages above the average could be seen as a good salary, there are no hard and fast rules regarding how to determine a good salary since there are many factors involved.
How do you find out what a company pays its employees? ›
Additional compensation and benefits data can be found at the following: Websites: Glassdoor (sample search): A jobs and recruiting site with a large database of salary reports. From the Salaries page, search by job title, company, and/or location to see what salaries actual employees have reported.
Is ZipRecruiter salary accurate? ›
ZipRecruiter Compensation Estimates are not verified by the employer posting the job, and the actual compensation range for an advertised position may vary, perhaps considerably, from the estimated range.
If you choose to use language that includes statements of verifiable facts, please be advised there is a possibility you could become the subject of a Jane or John Doe defamation lawsuit subpoena. This means Glassdoor could be required by subpoena to turn over information that could be used to identify you.
Can you use Glassdoor to negotiate salary? ›
Use Glassdoor's Know Your Worth tool, which gives you personalized estimated market value, what others in your field are being paid, and available job listings. Once you have a ballpark for your market worth, you'll be able to compare that with the average salary for the position you're vying for.
Can I use Glassdoor without leaving a review? ›
Can I use Glassdoor without leaving a review? Yes! While the "give-to-get" policy is enforced throughout many of Glassdoor's features, content submittal is not required for the Jobs and Community offerings.
Can an employer take down a Glassdoor review? ›
You can't pay us to take down reviews and we apply the same content moderation rules to our clients that we use for everyone else. Our members self-certify their relationship with their employer. We remove reviews when we find evidence of abuse of our "one review, per company worked at, per year” policy.
How much should you trust Glassdoor reviews? ›
It's imperative to approach Glassdoor reviews with caution. As you embark on your own job search journey, we encourage you to consider multiple sources of information and not rely solely on Glassdoor reviews.
Can employers respond to reviews on Glassdoor? ›
You must have a Free Employer Account, or an Enhanced Company Profile on Glassdoor in order to respond to reviews on your company's profile. With your Free Employer Account, you may provide an official employer response to any company review, interview review, or benefit review posted on your company profile.
How accurate is payscale? ›
As far as data goes, the main difference is that Payscale collects data from three sources: employers, employees, and surveys. Salary.com, on the other hand, only gathers data from surveys conducted by professional research firms. Both offer data that's as accurate as you could wish for.
Does Glassdoor no longer show salaries? ›
At Glassdoor, we believe salary transparency helps job seekers make more informed decisions about where they want to work and how they should be compensated. You can find a wealth of salary information for each company on the Salaries tab of their Glassdoor company profile page.
Is Zippia salary accurate? ›
Because our data comes from a variety of sources, the more frequently the company appears, the more accurate the salary estimate. That means that larger company estimates will be more accurate and reliable than salary estimates for smaller companies.
