How this calculator works
Each estimate starts from a baseline median salary for the role and experience level, then applies a location multiplier reflecting how tech pay in that market compares to a remote-US baseline — San Francisco and New York pay meaningfully above baseline; Chicago sits slightly below it. The 25th and 75th percentile bounds widen that single number into a realistic range.
Methodology and limits
These figures are directional 2026 estimates synthesized from aggregated public compensation reporting patterns — not a live feed of real-time company data, and not a substitute for negotiating with real offer data in hand. Base salary only; equity and bonus aren't included because they vary too widely by company to estimate responsibly here. Treat the result as a starting anchor for a negotiation, not a ceiling or a guarantee.
Negotiating when the posting already shows a salary range
Salary-range disclosure is now required on job postings in 18 US states plus DC, and the EU's Pay Transparency Directive puts similar obligations in effect across the EU as of 2026 — so a posted range is now the norm, not the exception, in much of this product's audience. A posted range changes the negotiation, but it doesn't end it: it's typically the range for the role broadly, not for your specific experience level, and companies still expect candidates who clearly exceed the baseline requirements to negotiate above the range's midpoint rather than anchoring to the bottom.
Use the calculator above as a second, independent anchor: if your estimated median sits above the posted range's midpoint, that's a reasonable, defensible basis to negotiate toward the top of the posted range or above it — not a guess, but a second data point to cite alongside your own experience.
Using this alongside your resume
Knowing your target range is one input; whether your resume actually gets you considered for it is another. Once you have a number in mind, check your resume against a real posting at that level with Career Copilot's AI resume score — or, if you're repositioning into a higher-paying AI-adjacent role, start with the AI career pivot resume guide.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this salary calculator?
It gives a directional estimate, not a guaranteed offer. The ranges are built from aggregated public compensation reporting patterns for 2026, not a live feed of individual company offers — actual pay varies by company size, funding stage, equity, and negotiation.
Why is there a range instead of one number?
A single number implies false precision. The 25th-75th percentile range reflects that two engineers at the same level and location can reasonably be paid differently depending on the specific company and how the offer was negotiated.
Does this include equity or bonus?
No — this shows base salary only. Total compensation at many tech companies, especially at senior and staff levels, includes meaningful equity and bonus on top of base, which varies too widely by company to estimate reliably here.
Why isn't my location or role listed?
The calculator currently covers six major US tech hubs and six common tech roles to keep estimates defensible. If your exact market isn't listed, the closest comparable hub (by cost of living and tech market density) is a reasonable starting anchor.