Your Salary Range Across Three Different Markets

Your salary depends on where you work, not just what you do. The same role pays differently in different cities and industries. Understanding your market value across locations and sectors tells you where your skills are most valuable.

This research matters before you need it. If layoffs force relocation or industry change, you'll already know where your compensation will increase or decrease. If you're considering a move for personal reasons, you'll understand the financial implications.

Identify your current role and typical job titles for similar work. Use broad categories rather than company-specific titles. If you're a "Senior Customer Success Manager" at your company, similar roles might be called "Account Manager," "Client Success Lead," or "Customer Experience Manager" elsewhere.

Research salary ranges for your role in three different contexts:

Your current city in a different industry. What would you earn doing similar work in a different sector?

A different city in your current industry. What would you earn doing the same work in a different location?

A different city in a different industry. What's the maximum variation in compensation for your skills?

Use salary research tools that provide location-specific data:

Glassdoor salary tool filters by city and company Levels.fyi shows compensation by company, level, and location (particularly for tech roles) PayScale provides salary ranges adjusted by city and experience LinkedIn salary insights show ranges based on job title and location Bureau of Labor Statistics provides median wages by occupation and metropolitan area

When researching, filter by:

• Your experience level (years in role, not total career years)
• The specific city, not just the state or region
• Company size similar to your target (startup vs mid-size vs enterprise)

You'll discover patterns:

Some cities pay significantly more for the same work. Tech roles in San Francisco pay 40-60% more than identical roles in Austin, but cost of living is also dramatically higher.

Some industries value your skills more than others. A project manager in construction earns differently than a project manager in tech, even with identical skills.

Remote work changes the equation. Some companies pay based on your location. Others pay based on where the role would be if it weren't remote. Understanding this difference matters when evaluating opportunities.

Experience premiums vary by market. In some cities and industries, ten years of experience commands significantly higher pay. In others, the difference between five and fifteen years of experience is minimal.

After researching, document:

Your current role and salary The salary range in City A (same industry, different location) The salary range in City B (same location, different industry)
The salary range in City C (different location and industry)

This gives you three data points showing where your skills are most and least valuable financially.

Example research outcome:

Current: Marketing Manager, Healthcare, Denver, $75K City A: Marketing Manager, Healthcare, Seattle, $85-95K City B: Marketing Manager, Tech, Denver, $95-110K City C: Marketing Manager, Tech, Seattle, $115-130K

This tells you:

• Moving to Seattle in the same industry adds $10-20K
• Switching to tech in Denver adds $20-35K
• Combining both changes maximizes compensation potential

The information becomes useful in several ways:

If you're considering relocation for personal reasons, you know the financial impact before deciding.

If you're laid off and willing to move, you know which cities offer better compensation.

If you're exploring industry changes, you understand the earning potential in different sectors.

If you're negotiating salary, you have market data supporting your request.

Some people avoid this research because they don't plan to move or change industries. That's shortsighted. Markets change, opportunities arise, and personal circumstances shift. Knowing your options before you need them gives you time to make strategic decisions rather than desperate ones.

Understanding your market value across locations and industries also reveals whether you're significantly underpaid in your current role. If similar positions in your city and industry pay 30% more than you're earning, that's information worth having before your next performance review or job search.

Research your salary range in three markets. Document the findings. Use the information to understand where your skills hold the most value and where opportunities might pay better than your current situation.