Salary.com is one of the top websites available to learn about salary information. There are a couple of versions available. The free version of the salary reports gives a basic overview of salary information based on a series of questions that the user answers. There are also paid versions of salary.com, which offers more in-depth salary information and comparisons.
Other salary related information on salary.com includes information about benefits, including a benefits calculator, geographical differences in salaries (called cost of living wizard on the site) and various tools for job searching and financial planning. There is also salary information for employers available for a fee.
The paid version of the salary information that is available for employees is more in-depth. The last time I went through the system, I received a 12 page print out that showed exactly where my compensation was in relation to others in the same job within the same geographical area. Some of the factors that are taken into consideration include location, company size, years of experience, job title, responsibility level, degrees, certificates and other training. The information was very helpful to see, and I would recommend it if you are about to negotiate a job offer or salary increase and need detailed information to present.
The salary information presented on salary.com did seem to lag slightly behind the market for the tech fields. I would estimate that it takes approximately 6 months for the salary information the site is gathering to be accurately reflected in the reports it generates. In the tech industry, a lot can change in 6 months, so make sure you do additional research.