Free Salary Estimator 2026

Whether you are preparing for a job offer, planning a move to a new city, or evaluating a promotion, knowing the market rate for your role is essential. Our free salary estimator gives you accurate 2026 compensation ranges based on real market data.

Simply select your job title or type a custom role, pick your location, and choose your experience level. Within seconds you will see the median salary plus 25th and 75th percentile ranges. This gives you a complete picture of what you can expect and what to negotiate for.

The tool covers major US tech hubs including San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Austin, Los Angeles, Boston, and Denver. It also includes remote positions which now command competitive rates as companies normalize distributed work.

For the most accurate comparison, use the tool multiple times with different locations. A backend developer in San Francisco might earn 35% more than the same role in Denver, but factoring in cost of living changes the real value of that difference.

The tech salary landscape in 2026 continues to show strong demand for specialized roles. Machine Learning Engineers and Security Engineers have seen the steepest growth curves, with median salaries climbing faster than general software engineering roles.

Remote work compensation has stabilized. While fully remote roles once paid location-agnostic rates, 2026 market data shows companies now applying location bands even for remote workers. Our tool reflects these adjusted multipliers.

Senior and leadership roles have widened their gap over mid-level positions. Engineering Managers and Tech Leads now command median base salaries approaching $190,000 to $200,000 in top markets, with total compensation often exceeding $300,000 when stock and bonuses are included.

Full Stack and Backend Developers remain the most consistently in-demand roles across all markets. Their median salaries in 2026 range from $135,000 to $150,000 depending on location and experience, with strong upward mobility into senior and staff-level positions.

Always anchor your negotiation above the median for your role and location. If you are a Mid-level Software Engineer in Seattle with a median of $174,000, open your ask at the 75th percentile or higher. You can always come down, but you rarely get a second chance to open high.

Use total compensation, not just base salary, as your benchmark. Stock options, annual bonuses, signing bonuses, and benefits can add 30% to 60% on top of your base. Our estimator gives you the base foundation; factor in the rest based on company stage and generosity.

Counter-offers require data. If your current employer offers a raise after you receive an outside offer, verify it against the market range for your role. A 10% internal raise might still leave you below the 50th percentile for external market rates.

Location flexibility is leverage. If you are open to remote work or relocation, use multiple city comparisons from our tool to strengthen your position. Showing that you have options in higher-paying markets signals confidence and market awareness to hiring managers.