Questions about Indeed salary estimates (2023)

Let's say I search the on the job board Indeed for a position as a widget maker where I can make $60,000 per year. The site shows me a listing from Acme Co. that doesn't explicitly say the pay. But by returning that listing, Indeed is indicating that the salary is $60K.

How reliable are those salary estimates? How are those estimates determined? Please indicate whether your answer is speculation or you have some relevant knowledge.

posted by NotLost to (14 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite

Speculation: when someone submits an advertisement for a role to indeed, there may be a field for the advertiser to plug in a salary or salary range, that indeed can use to help job seekers filter results although it wont show the raw number on the ad. Further speculation: indeed may run some statistical modelling where they'll estimate a plausible salary for a role based on known salaries for advertised roles in a similar market.

(Video) How to Answer "What Are Your Salary Expectations?" | Indeed Career Tips

Tangentially: some recruitment agency websites publish guides with statistics of salary ranges for roles in the current job market, may also be an interesting source of data, although it wont tell you the budget for any particular role offered by any particular employer. Also, even if some recruitment agency statistics say a role is typically paid $a - $b it is certainly possible for some people to be doing that exact role and getting paid $c > $b. Also, in some countries some organisations (e.g. government funded ones) are required to publish salary bands for all their roles, so for roles in those organisations, you can just look 'em up.

A really good way to get an estimate of market rate salary for your particular situation is to get multiple simultaneous job offers from well-funded organisations that you'd be willing to accept working for, but that takes a bit time and energy and luck for the stars to align in your favor.
posted by are-coral-made at 10:32 PM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]

I would assume Indeed is making its best guess based off of the title and seniority level.
posted by Lady Li at 11:50 PM on October 22, 2021 [5 favorites]

Companies in Colorado or who hire remote workers in Colorado have to publish salary bands. I’ve found this to be incredibly helpful, even for applying to companies NOT in CO. (My current company is based in Denver, but I started working for them via an acquisition. It continues to be useful for purposes of internal moves.)
posted by supercres at 11:51 PM on October 22, 2021 [6 favorites]

Sorry meant to add in the connection to your exact question: I also wouldn’t be surprised if the company provides the band but the job board doesn’t show it to the browser except under certain circumstances, maybe location based, maybe as a result of having a salary range filter.
posted by supercres at 11:53 PM on October 22, 2021

You could test some of this by entering different salary expectations in your search, and checking whether you get different results.
posted by rd45 at 12:04 AM on October 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: rd45 -- I do get different results when I put in different salary numbers. But that doesn't tell me how reliable the results are. Such as, Indeed search results indicate Company A pays its widget makers $X, and Company B pays its widget makers $Y. That doesn't tell me how accurate Indeed is with its estimates.
posted by NotLost at 12:15 AM on October 23, 2021

(Video) Salary Negotiation: Top Mistakes to AVOID | Indeed Career Tips

If it was my search - I’d take those numbers as reliable enough to decide whether or not to apply. What you hear about salary at interview might change your mind, but TBF you always have that risk.

Have a look at the company’s listing on glassdoor too. You might be able to confirm the number there.
posted by rd45 at 1:28 AM on October 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Over the last 18 months or so this has happened to me 4 times: Indeed fed me a result from a search which included a salary filter, the resultant posting didn't specify a salary or range, I interviewed after applying and discovered that the offered salary was below the amount of my filter.

By contrast, I don't think it's ever happened to me in the same situation that the offered salary was at or above my filtered amount.

Sooo, not reliable maybe?
posted by chudmonkey at 1:47 AM on October 23, 2021 [7 favorites]

(Video) How to Negotiate Salary: Asking for More Money After a Job Offer | Indeed

check h1b salaries, which companies are required to disclose if they hire h1b visa-holders at all. that has been accurate for my base salary, but does not reveal bonus or any other non-standard base pay.
posted by shaademaan at 4:34 AM on October 23, 2021 [2 favorites]

I've listed jobs on Indeed. There is a salary field, but if it's filled out it shows up. As far as I know there is no hidden salary field to fill out. They are likely using days modeling based on other listings.
posted by pyro979 at 5:07 AM on October 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Part of my job has been recruiting, including posting to the major job boards. Put no faith in the estimates. As far as I can tell, they’re just based on the title (which companies don’t always use consistently) and location (which isn’t always accurate if, e.g., a company has different salaries based on remote worker location instead of their company HQ address), maybe the size of the company (if known).

They can be right. One of the jobs I posted showed an estimated salary range that was something like $30k - $100k. This was….technically correct? Like, the salary was right in the middle of the numbers that LinkedIn or Indeed guessed, but that range was obviously not our actual range and was in fact so large as to be useless to a potential applicant.

Others I’ve posted were just totally off, and there’s no way to keep it from guessing unless the recruiter does enter actually salary info (which, I think every employer SHOULD, but that’s above my pay grade).
posted by moonbeam at 7:08 AM on October 23, 2021

I work in an industry that has been discussing this change extensively. Our understanding is that the Indeed Estimate (read: guess) is based on aggregated *national* data for roles with the title.

This change is part of a push to improve applicant experience. If you ask me, it’s a great way to waste applicants’ time since, as others in this Ask have indicated, the salary offered is sometimes not within the estimated range.
posted by sevensnowflakes at 7:49 AM on October 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

(Video) How To Find Salaries In Indeed

Best answer: Echoing Chudmonkey, Indeed provides a guesstimate, but it's better for Indeed's engagement numbers if the salaries air on the high side. I have posted ~$45k jobs there that Indeed has guessed at a $80k salary. Take the estimates with a large pinch of salt.
posted by matrixclown at 8:22 AM on October 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks for your help! The first-hand info is very enlightening.
posted by NotLost at 8:58 AM on October 24, 2021

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FAQs

How do you answer the expected salary question? ›

Consider giving a salary range, not a number

If a job post asks applicants to state their expected salary when applying for the position, then give a range — not a specific figure — you're comfortable with. Answers like “Negotiable” might work, but they can also make you look evasive.

What is your salary expectation sample answer indeed? ›

Provide a range

For example: “I would like to earn between $83,000 and $87,000 per year. Due to my advanced skill set and experience level, I feel that this is a comfortable, appropriate range for my work.”

Which salary estimator is the most accurate? ›

The best salary research sites are Glassdoor, SalaryExpert, Salary.com, Indeed, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

How do you ask for expected salary? ›

You can say something like, “Based on my 10 years of experience in this field, I would expect a salary in the range of $Y to $Z.” Before mentioning any numbers, remind the interviewer why he or she should offer you a salary in the first place. Be prepared to negotiate.

Should you tell recruiter your salary expectations? ›

Apart from playing safe, providing an employer with an expected salary range can make it sound more flexible and negotiable. Job seekers should provide a range when stating the salary expectation question, not a specific figure. Flexibility is something most employers appreciate and it leaves room for adjustment.

What should I say for desired salary? ›

On a Job Application

Not all applications will ask for your desired salary, so if they don't ask, there's no need to give one. And if they do ask, keep things simple by saying something like “salary is negotiable” or “salary may be discussed during the interview process.”

How to tell candidate their salary expectation is too high? ›

Be Upfront

If a candidate's target salary is too high, you may respond with the following. “I just want to be honest with you. Your target salary is outside our range. If this is still negotiable, I would like to invite you for an interview and further discuss the role with you.

Is it OK to put negotiable for salary requirements? ›

Yes, it is OK to put negotiable for your salary requirements. The only disadvantage this might have is if you appear over qualified for the position and the recruiter might assume your salary expectations are too high.

How do you answer salary expectations 2022? ›

Choose a salary range

Without a doubt, providing a salary range is the best way to answer this daunting question. This shows that you're flexible and willing to work towards an answer that will suit both you and your future employer.

Is the estimated salary on indeed accurate? ›

When a job posting doesn't include a salary, we estimate it by looking at data for similar jobs. Estimated salaries are not endorsed by the companies offering those positions and may vary from actual salaries.

How do I know if my salary is fair? ›

6 ways to figure out how much you should be getting paid—before negotiating your salary or a raise
  1. Check local job listings. ...
  2. See if HR is required to tell you. ...
  3. Research online salary databases. ...
  4. Talk to your colleagues. ...
  5. Tap your extended network. ...
  6. Ask your future co-workers.
2 Feb 2022

Are salary estimates accurate? ›

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.

Is it OK to ask for salary expectations? ›

Ultimately, in response to the question “Is it acceptable to ask candidates about their expected salary”, from a recruitment viewpoint, the answer is yes and how you navigate this question can be very advantageous in securing a successful recruitment process.

How do you negotiate salary after receiving a job offer? ›

How to Negotiate Salary After You Get a Job Offer
  1. Become familiar with industry salary trends. You need to enter a salary negotiation as informed as possible. ...
  2. Build your case. ...
  3. Tell the truth. ...
  4. Factor in perks and benefits. ...
  5. Practice your delivery. ...
  6. Know when to wrap it up. ...
  7. Get everything in writing. ...
  8. Stay positive.
7 Jan 2022

What should you not tell a recruiter? ›

7 Things You Should Never Tell a Recruiter
  • “I'm pretty desperate.” ...
  • “It'll do, I suppose.” ...
  • “I hated my last boss/ colleagues.” ...
  • “Did you not even bother to read my CV?” ...
  • “I'm hoping to go travelling at some point.” ...
  • “I just want more money.” ...
  • “I'd probably accept a counter-offer.”

Can I tell recruiter a salary is too low? ›

If you can't reach an acceptable salary figure, and you don't feel that associated perks and benefits add enough value to the compensation package to balance the low earnings, respectfully decline the job. Thank you very much for the consideration, and the offer, but I'm afraid I'm unable to accept the salary.

How do you deflect salary questions? ›

In an interview …

If you're asked for your salary expectations, you could deflect by saying “What do you usually pay someone in this position?” or “I'd like to learn more about the role before I set my salary expectations. I would hope that my salary would line up with market rates for similar positions in this area.”

Can you lose job offer negotiating salary? ›

You can definitely lose a potential job offer by negotiating your salary during the first interviews. Asking the salary range for the position at the end of the interview is as far as you can go. It would be appropriate if the job posting didn't specify that number already.

What 3 questions should I ask interviewer? ›

Asking these questions shows that you're interested in your interviewer as a person—and that's a great way to build rapport with a future colleague.
  • How long have you been with the company?
  • Has your role changed since you've been here?
  • What did you do before this?
  • Why did you come to this company?
20 May 2022

Can you reject a candidate based on salary expectations? ›

If you're sure that you want to decline, consider saying something like this: "I appreciate the offer and your time, but I can't accept this position at the salary you're offering. If the salary range is something that can be negotiated, please let me know."

How do I reply when HR says that the expected salary is too high? ›

State one too high — without additional interviews to back up that number — and HR might move on to another candidate expecting lower pay. Instead, you can respond to the question by kicking it back to HR, Lares says.

How to reject a candidate because of high salary expectations? ›

At this time I can't move you forward in our recruitment process, because we are offering salary which you're exceeding with your expectations. Thank you so so much for your application to [COMPANY NAME] and I wish you luck in your future recruitments.

What should you not say when negotiating salary? ›

Here are seven phrases to avoid uttering when negotiating salary.
  1. “The original offer works for me.” ...
  2. “My current salary is…” ...
  3. “I want more than that.” ...
  4. “I need more money because I have student loans to pay.” ...
  5. “I hate to ask for more, but…” ...
  6. "I'm a top performer, and I expect to be paid at the top of your salary scale.”

What is the #1 rule of salary negotiation? ›

Rule #1 of salary negotiation is this: Do not disclose your salary history or salary requirements. This can be uncomfortable, but it's your first opportunity to negotiate a much higher salary.

What to say if you aren't offered enough money in a salary negotiation? ›

If the offer is way below your minimum

Leading with gratitude can make a difficult conversation more palatable: “Thanks for thinking of me for this role and sharing the pay. Unfortunately, that's significantly lower than what I would have expected for this.” Next, gauge whether they can be flexible on the offer.

Is it worth doing the assessments on Indeed? ›

Do you want your Indeed resume to stand out? Well, Indeed assessments can help demonstrate specific skills, and the scores will appear on your resume. Indeed has many different assessments in various subjects, and you can take as many assessments as you want.

Should I put desired salary on Indeed? ›

Including your expected salary in your resume can help employers decide whether you're the right candidate for their budget. Employers also may be interested in learning how you value your skills and experiences. Consider adding your salary expectations to your resume upon request from a potential employer.

What does the salary range on Indeed mean? ›

A salary range is the payment amount between a set of low to high numbers that you want to receive if you're hired by a company. It includes a low, mid and maximum salary point. For example, if you say that your salary range is $40,000 to $50,000, this means you'd like to receive a salary within those numbers.

What 4 factors will affect your salary? ›

Reasons wages vary
  • Credentials. ...
  • Experience and skill. ...
  • Industry or employer. ...
  • Job tasks. ...
  • Geographic location. ...
  • Success and performance.

What is a good range to ask for salary? ›

With the Future in Mind

A good rule of thumb is to keep the lower end of your range at least 10 percent above your current salary, or the number you determine is a reasonable salary for the position. For example, if you currently earn $50,000, you may say that your range is $55,000 to $65,000.

Should you overestimate desired salary? ›

But it's important not to overestimate your worth. Once you've done some research, provide the potential employer with a reasonable range that includes your sweet spot and some flexibility in case the position does not pay as anticipated. Many job-seekers get stuck on this question, so please know you're not alone.

How much is your expected salary justify? ›

Justify your salary expectation

Consider justifying it with your skills and experience, especially if you have quoted a figure above the industry average. An honest expectation supported by market data shows that you know your worth well. Example: “My present salary for the position of Digital Marketer is Rs.

How do you analyze salary? ›

How to Conduct a Compensation Analysis
  1. Step One: Set Goals. ...
  2. Step Two: Examine Your Organization's Current Pay Practices and Pay Philosophy. ...
  3. Step Three: Gather the Data. ...
  4. Step Four: Put the Data into Action and Set Ranges. ...
  5. Step Five: Follow Through and Implement Changes. ...
  6. Step Six: Determine Your Pay Communication Strategy.
10 Mar 2020

Should you always accept the first job offer? ›

Should you take the job or hold off? Passing on your first job offer may feel like a big risk, but accepting on the fly and without much consideration is just as risky. It's best to continue your job search, but you don't have to go it alone.

How many times can you negotiate salary offer? ›

Countering a job offer multiple times may not be the best approach. Instead, prepare your salary expectations based on the value of your skillset and experience in the current market. Don't drag on the salary negotiation too long. Depending on the situation, two times is the most I would recommend.

What is an appropriate counter offer for a job? ›

A good range for a counter is between 10% and 20% above their initial offer. On the low end, 10% is enough to make a counter worthwhile, but not enough to cause anyone any heartburn.

What is the best estimator in statistics? ›

The most efficient point estimator is the one with the smallest variance of all the unbiased and consistent estimators. The variance measures the level of dispersion from the estimate, and the smallest variance should vary the least from one sample to the other.

How do I find the best salary data? ›

The 10 Best Salary Websites to Check Before Your Pay Review
  1. PayScale.
  2. Salary.com.
  3. US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  4. Glassdoor.
  5. Indeed.
  6. LinkedIn Salary.
  7. Salary Expert.
  8. Paylab.
26 Apr 2022

Are Glassdoor salary estimates 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 are the two types of estimates? ›

There are two types of estimates: point and interval. A point estimate is a value of a sample statistic that is used as a single estimate of a population parameter.

What are the two methods of estimation? ›

There are two fundamental methods of estimation for simultaneous equations: least squares and maximum likelihood. There are two approaches within each of these categories: single equation methods and system estimation. 2SLS, 3SLS, and IT3SLS use the least-squares method; LIML and FIML use the maximum likelihood method.

What makes a good estimate? ›

A good estimator must satisfy three conditions: Unbiased: The expected value of the estimator must be equal to the mean of the parameter. Consistent: The value of the estimator approaches the value of the parameter as the sample size increases.

What is an appropriate salary range? ›

A good rule of thumb is to keep the lower end of your range at least 10 percent above your current salary, or the number you determine is a reasonable salary for the position. For example, if you currently earn $50,000, you may say that your range is $55,000 to $65,000.

What is Glassdoor estimate? ›

Average annual salary in Glassdoor is INR 19 lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 15 Glassdoor salaries received from various employees of Glassdoor. Reviews. 2Cr+

What does HR use to determine salary? ›

Demographic and market factors: Salaries are impacted by market and demographic factors like the availability of jobs, the number of available candidates for a particular job or the number of employees looking for the same education and skills.

What is salary survey method? ›

A salary survey is a tool specifically for remuneration specialists and managers to define a fair and competitive salary for the employees of a company. The survey output is data on the average or median salary for a specific position, taking into consideration the region, industry, company size, etc.

Why is salary survey important? ›

Survey data provides a relevant basis for HR's decisions on salary, incentives, and bonus plans when meeting with senior management and employees. HR professionals will be more confident when communicating changes in pay knowing that their decisions were based on current market data that includes industry peers.

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