Shoutout to the free career stats page on the Bureau of Labor Statistics site
I was looking up average pay for project managers on a hunch last week. The BLS site said the median wage is about $95,000 a year, which I expected. But the part that got me was that the top 10% make over $160,000. I found that on their Occupational Outlook Handbook page under 'Pay'. It made me rethink what's possible in my own role. Has anyone else used that site to set new salary goals?
It's the percentiles that really help you negotiate. Seeing the top 10% figure gives you a solid number to aim for, not just a vague dream. That data turns a wish into a real target.