Examples of Tools for Conducting Job Market Research

Introduction

Job market research is no longer optional. Whether you are changing careers, negotiating a raise, or choosing a college major, you need credible information about:

• Current and typical salary ranges
• Job growth and stability in your field
• Skills and qualifications employers actually require
• Company culture, benefits, and work–life balance
• Geographic differences in pay and demand

This article focuses on concrete tools you can use to gather that information, with real examples of how to apply them. We will cover:

1. LinkedIn Salary Insights – for role- and location-specific pay data
2. Glassdoor job market insights – for salaries, reviews, and employer research
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook – for official job outlooks and long-term trends

You will also see how to combine these tools with related resources (like job postings and professional associations) to build a complete picture of the market.

1. LinkedIn Salary Insights

LinkedIn Salary Insights is a data tool embedded in LinkedIn that aggregates self‑reported compensation information from millions of members, along with some employer-provided data. It helps you understand what professionals in similar roles are earning based on:

• Job title
• Location
• Years of experience
• Company size and sometimes industry

How LinkedIn Salary Insights Helps With Job Market Research

LinkedIn Salary Insights is especially useful for:

• Benchmarking your current salary against peers in similar roles
• Preparing for salary negotiations when changing jobs or asking for a raise
• Comparing locations to decide where a move might make financial sense
• Evaluating career paths (e.g., how pay changes as you move from individual contributor to manager)

Because it is tied to LinkedIn’s professional network, the data often reflects current market conditions and emerging job titles (e.g., “Data Scientist,” “Product Marketing Manager,” “Customer Success Manager").

Example 1: Negotiating a Software Engineer Offer

Imagine you receive an offer for a Software Engineer role in Austin, Texas for $115,000 base salary.

You can use LinkedIn Salary Insights to:

1. Search for “Software Engineer” in “Austin, Texas.”
2. Review the median and range of base salaries (for example, you might see a range like \(105,000–\)140,000 with a median around $125,000, depending on experience).
3. Filter by experience level (e.g., 3–5 years) to ensure you’re comparing against the right peer group.
4. Check whether the tool shows bonus and equity data for similar roles.

If the data suggests that your offer is below the median for your experience level, you now have evidence to:

• Ask for a higher base salary
• Request a signing bonus or equity to close the gap
• Explain your request using market data, not just personal preference

Pro Tip: Capture screenshots or export the key numbers (where possible) before negotiations. This helps you reference specific figures when discussing compensation.

Example 2: Comparing Remote vs. On‑Site Pay

Suppose you are a Marketing Manager currently based in Chicago and considering a fully remote role with a company headquartered in a smaller city.

Using LinkedIn Salary Insights, you can:

1. Search “Marketing Manager” for Chicago, IL and note the median salary.
2. Search the same title for the company’s headquarters location.
3. Search for “Marketing Manager” with “Remote” (if supported) or look at national data.

This comparison can show you whether remote roles in your field tend to:

• Pay closer to big-city rates
• Align more with the company’s local market
• Fall somewhere in between

This helps you decide if a remote offer is truly competitive or if you are being paid at a discount relative to your current market.

Important Notes on LinkedIn Salary Insights

• Data quality depends on participation. Not all roles or locations have the same volume of data; niche roles may show wider ranges or limited insights.
• Compensation is often total rewards. Some roles have significant bonuses, commissions, or equity that may not be fully visible.
• Use it as one data point. Always cross-check with at least one other source (e.g., Glassdoor, BLS, or employer-provided ranges).

Pro Tip: Combine LinkedIn Salary data with job postings that list salary ranges (which are increasingly common due to pay transparency laws in some U.S. states) to validate whether your expectations are realistic.

2. Glassdoor Job Market Insights

Glassdoor is widely known for anonymous employee reviews, but it also provides:

• Salary ranges by job title and company
• Benefits and work–life balance ratings
• Interview questions and difficulty ratings
• Company culture insights

This makes Glassdoor particularly useful for researching both market pay and employer fit.

How Glassdoor Supports Job Market Research

Use Glassdoor to:

• Understand typical pay for a specific job at a specific company
• Compare employee satisfaction across potential employers
• Identify common complaints (e.g., long hours, high turnover, unclear career paths)
• See which skills or experiences current employees highlight as valuable

Example 3: Evaluating a Marketing Role at a Specific Company

You are considering a Marketing Specialist position at “XYZ Corp” in New York City.

On Glassdoor, you can:

1. Search for XYZ Corp and navigate to the “Salaries” tab.
2. Filter by job title: “Marketing Specialist” and location: “New York, NY.”
3. Review the reported salary range (e.g., \(60,000–\)78,000) and the number of data points.

4. Switch to the "Reviews" tab and filter by “Marketing” or “New York” to see:

   • How employees rate management and leadership
   • Comments on workload, career growth, and team culture
   • Mentions of benefits like remote work, health insurance, or bonuses

Armed with this information, you can:

• Decide whether the posted salary aligns with your expectations
• Prepare targeted questions for your interview (e.g., about career progression or workload)
• Identify potential red flags (e.g., repeated mentions of burnout or unclear strategy)

Pro Tip: Pay attention to review dates. A pattern of negative reviews in the last 6–12 months may indicate recent changes in leadership, restructuring, or culture.

Example 4: Comparing Two Employers Side by Side

Suppose you have offers from Company A and Company B for similar Data Analyst roles.

On Glassdoor, you can:

1. Look up both companies and compare:

   • Overall rating (e.g., 3.2 vs. 4.1 out of 5)
   • CEO approval rating
   • “Would Recommend to a Friend” percentage
2. Review the Data Analyst salaries at each employer.
3. Read recent reviews filtered by job function (e.g., “Data & Analytics") and location.

This comparison might reveal that:

• Company A pays slightly more but has lower satisfaction scores and frequent mentions of long hours.
• Company B pays slightly less but offers better work–life balance and stronger mentorship.

You can then decide which trade‑off best fits your priorities.

Additional Glassdoor Features for Research

• "Know Your Worth” tool: Uses your job title, location, and experience to estimate your market value.
• Job alerts: Notify you when new roles matching your criteria are posted.
• Interview insights: Help you prepare for common questions and understand the interview structure.

Important Note: Glassdoor data is self‑reported and anonymous, which can introduce bias. Use trends and patterns rather than focusing on any single review or data point.

3. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a federal agency that collects and analyzes labor market data. One of its most useful resources for job seekers is the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), available at the official BLS website: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.

The OOH provides standardized, research-based information on hundreds of occupations, including:

• Typical duties and work environment
• Median pay and pay distribution
• Required education and training
• Projected growth or decline over 10 years
• Number of jobs and job openings

Because it is an official government resource, the OOH is widely used by career counselors, educators, and workforce planners.

How the Occupational Outlook Handbook Supports Job Market Research

Use the OOH to:

• Evaluate the long‑term outlook of a career path
• Compare median pay across occupations
• Understand the education and licensing requirements
• Identify related occupations you may not have considered

The OOH often cites underlying data tables and methodological notes, which makes it a strong foundation for serious career planning.

Example 5: Assessing a Career in Nursing

If you are considering becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), you can search the OOH for “Registered Nurses.”

The OOH entry provides:

• Median annual wage (for example, BLS reported a median annual wage for registered nurses of about $81,220 in 2022 in the United States; check the latest figure on the site).
• Job outlook, including projected percentage growth in employment over a 10‑year period.
• Typical work settings (hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, etc.).
• Educational requirements, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an associate degree, plus licensing.

You can use this data to:

• Decide whether the expected pay and growth justify the time and cost of education.
• Compare nursing to related roles like Nurse Practitioners or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).
• Plan a multi‑step career path (e.g., RN → advanced practice nurse).

Example 6: Comparing Tech Careers

Suppose you are choosing between careers as a Software Developer and a Computer Support Specialist.

On the OOH, you can:

1. Look up “Software Developers” and note:

   • Median annual pay
   • Projected growth rate
   • Typical education level (often a bachelor’s degree)
2. Look up “Computer Support Specialists” and note the same metrics.

3. Compare:

   • Which role has higher projected growth
   • Differences in education requirements and typical work environment
   • How median pay compares

This comparison is especially useful for students or career changers deciding where to invest time and money in training.

Additional BLS Resources

Beyond the OOH, BLS offers:

• Employment Projections: Long-term forecasts of industry and occupational growth (https://www.bls.gov/emp/).
• Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): Detailed wage estimates by occupation and geographic area.
• Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS): Data on unemployment by state and metro area.

Pro Tip: Use BLS data to validate or challenge what you see on commercial platforms. If a role looks extremely high‑paying on one site but BLS data shows a much lower median wage, dig deeper before making decisions.

4. Combining Tools for Stronger Job Market Insights

No single tool gives you the full picture. The most effective job market research combines multiple data sources to answer specific questions.

Example 7: Planning a Career Change into Data Analytics

Imagine you are a mid‑career professional in customer service considering a move into Data Analytics.

You could use a multi‑tool approach:

1. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

   • Search for “Data Scientists” or “Operations Research Analysts” or “Market Research Analysts”.
   • Review median pay, growth rate, and education requirements.
   • Confirm that analytics-related roles have strong projected growth.

2. LinkedIn Salary Insights

   • Look up “Data Analyst” and “Business Analyst” in your target city.
   • See salary ranges for entry-level and mid-level roles.
   • Identify whether certain industries (finance, healthcare, tech) pay more.

3. Glassdoor

   • Research specific companies that hire data analysts.
   • Read reviews to see if they support career changers or invest in training.
   • Check salary reports for “Data Analyst” roles at those employers.

4. Job Postings (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn Jobs)

   • Scan current job ads to identify must‑have skills (e.g., SQL, Python, Tableau).
   • Note required years of experience and common certifications.

This combined approach helps you answer:

• Is this field growing or shrinking?
• What salary can I reasonably expect in my location at an entry level?
• Which skills and tools should I prioritize learning?
• Which companies appear to support growth and learning for new analysts?

Important Note: Always check the date on any data (especially projections). The job market can change due to economic cycles, technology shifts, or policy changes.

Expert Tips for Using Job Market Research Tools Effectively

1. Define Your Research Questions First

Before opening any tool, clarify what you need to know. For example:

• “What is a fair salary for a mid‑level project manager in Seattle?”
• “Which healthcare roles are projected to grow the fastest over the next decade?”
• “How does employee satisfaction compare across my top three target employers?”

Clear questions help you choose the right tool and avoid getting overwhelmed.

2. Cross‑Check Data From Multiple Sources

Treat each tool as a piece of evidence, not the final answer. When possible:

• Compare salary ranges from LinkedIn Salary Insights and Glassdoor.
• Validate long‑term trends with BLS data.
• Use job postings to confirm which skills and certifications employers actually request.

If numbers differ, consider:

• Sample size (how many reports?)
• Geography (national vs. local data)
• Time frame (are you looking at current or outdated information?)

3. Adjust for Cost of Living and Benefits

A higher salary in a high‑cost city may not translate into better quality of life. Consider:

• Housing, transportation, and taxes
• Health insurance, retirement plans, bonuses, and paid time off

You can use external cost‑of‑living calculators or resources (for example, some government and nonprofit sites provide regional cost data) to compare locations more accurately.

4. Track Your Findings Systematically

Create a simple spreadsheet or document to record:

• Job titles and locations researched
• Salary ranges from each tool
• BLS median pay and growth rate
• Notes on company culture and benefits

This makes trends easier to spot and helps you justify your decisions to yourself, your family, or even a mentor or career coach.

Pro Tip: Update your research at least once a year if you are in a fast‑changing field like technology, healthcare, or digital marketing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Which tool should I start with if I am completely new to job market research?

Begin with the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to understand broad trends, median pay, and job growth for occupations you are considering. Then use LinkedIn Salary Insights and Glassdoor to get more granular, real‑time information on salaries and employers in your specific location.

2. How accurate are salary estimates on sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor?

Salary estimates on commercial platforms are based on self‑reported data (and sometimes employer-provided ranges). They are best viewed as approximations rather than precise figures. Accuracy improves when:

• There are many data points for a role and location
• You filter by experience level and geography

To increase confidence, compare data from at least two sources and check official statistics from BLS when available.

3. Can job market research really help me negotiate a higher salary?

Yes. Coming to a negotiation with specific, data‑backed salary ranges shows that your request is grounded in market reality. Employers are more likely to adjust offers when you can reference credible sources (e.g., “Based on current data from LinkedIn Salary and Glassdoor for this role in this city, a typical range is…"). While it doesn’t guarantee a higher offer, it significantly strengthens your position.

4. How often should I update my job market research?

For active job seekers, review data every few weeks while you’re interviewing, as new postings and economic changes can shift the market quickly. For employed professionals planning long‑term, an annual review is usually sufficient—unless your industry is undergoing rapid change (e.g., due to new technology or regulation), in which case you may want to check more frequently.

5. Are these tools useful outside the United States?

Yes, but with limitations. LinkedIn Salary and Glassdoor both collect data from multiple countries, so you can often find salary and employer information for international locations. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics focuses on the United States. For other countries, look for equivalent national statistics agencies or labor organizations (for example, government labor departments or national statistics offices) to complement the global platforms.

By combining LinkedIn Salary Insights, Glassdoor job market data, and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook—and by approaching them with clear questions and a critical eye—you can build a detailed, evidence‑based understanding of your job market. This research empowers you to choose stronger career paths, target better opportunities, and negotiate compensation with confidence.