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Salary Research Without Google

5 min readBy PrivateAI Team

Salary Research Without Google: A Comparison Guide

INTRODUCTION

In an era where privacy concerns and data accuracy are paramount, traditional search engines like Google are often avoided for salary research. This guide compares three tools—Perplexity, Levels.fyi, and Glassdoor—evaluating their privacy risks and data accuracy. It also provides a workflow for tech workers to benchmark total compensation.

CONCLUSIONS

  • Best for Privacy: Perplexity offers the lowest privacy risk due to its AI-driven, no-sign-up approach.
  • Most Accurate Data: Levels.fyi provides the most reliable and detailed compensation data tailored for tech roles.
  • Balanced Approach: Glassdoor offers a good balance of data accuracy and market context but with higher privacy concerns.

COMPARISON GUIDE

1. Perplexity

  • Privacy Risk: Low

- Perplexity's AI-driven model collects usage data but doesn't require sign-ups, minimizing direct user tracking.

  • Data Accuracy: Moderate

- Aggregates data from various sources, which can be accurate but may include outdated or less relevant information.

2. Levels.fyi

  • Privacy Risk: Medium

- Requires sign-up and data collection for personalized insights, posing a moderate privacy risk.

  • Data Accuracy: High

- Specializes in compensation data with a focus on tech roles, offering detailed and reliable information.

3. Glassdoor

  • Privacy Risk: High

- Collects user data for personalized experiences, raising privacy concerns.

  • Data Accuracy: Moderate

- Known for salary estimates but has faced criticism for inaccuracies, especially in newer markets.

WORKFLOW FOR TECH WORKERS

Step 1: Use Levels.fyi for Detailed Data

  • Action: Input job title, location, and experience level to retrieve detailed compensation data.
  • Why: Provides specialized, accurate data tailored for tech roles.

Step 2: Cross-Reference with Glassdoor

  • Action: Use Glassdoor to compare market rates and company-specific salary data.
  • Why: Offers broader market context but verify with other sources due to potential inaccuracies.

Step 3: Fill Gaps with Perplexity

  • Action: Use Perplexity to search for niche or less common roles and compensation trends.
  • Why: Low privacy risk and useful for less common data points.

Step 4: Verify and Adjust

  • Action: Cross-reference findings with personal networks and professional contacts.
  • Why: Ensures data is current and relevant to your specific situation.