Independent researcher of US compensation data. Based in Indonesia. Founder and sole maintainer of SalaryLabs, a free and currently self-funded research utility for US salary, paycheck, take-home pay, and tax math. Working on the project since early 2024.
Areas of knowledge
I publish open salary, paycheck, and tax research for US workers. Every calculator on SalaryLabs runs deterministic JavaScript formulas anchored to primary sources: IRS Publication 15-T, IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, Social Security Administration wage-base announcements, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and DOL Fair Labor Standards Act rules. The math is shown, the sources are cited inline, and the assumptions are documented on the methodology page.
The site is published in English. The audience is US workers. The site identifies who maintains it, and the formulas, assumptions, methodology, and source notes published on the site can be inspected by readers. Numbers are anchored to US primary sources, so the provenance of the math does not depend on where the maintainer is based.
I started SalaryLabs in early 2024 because the existing US salary tool landscape splits cleanly into two camps. On one side, paid subscription products that gate basic paycheck math behind sign-ups, lead capture, or premium tiers. On the other side, free tools that monetize through aggressive ad density and generic content that does not actually answer the worker's question.
Neither side serves the person who just wants to know what a $75,000 offer becomes after tax in their state, or whether reclassifying from exempt to non-exempt would change their pay. SalaryLabs is the small middle ground: free, transparent about sourcing, independently maintained, and aimed at one specific job — answering paycheck and offer questions clearly, in the worker's preferred language.
- Library of 13 free calculators covering salary conversion, take-home pay, federal and state tax estimation, FICA calculation, overtime under FLSA, salary comparison, salary heatmap, income percentile, and more.
- Long-form analytical guides on real take-home pay by state (2026), wage growth versus inflation 2020–2026, the hourly-versus-salary decision framework, FICA wage base history 1999–2026, and the honest math behind no-income-tax states.
- Methodology, editorial policy, and corrections pages so readers can audit the math against primary sources.
The project is a one-person operation. I write, code, source-check, and maintain the site. There is no editorial board, no anonymous research team, and no claim of professional licensure or advisory authority. The site is a research utility that publishes the math openly and lets readers decide whether the assumptions fit their situation.
AI-assisted tools help draft and edit explanatory copy. All numerical outputs come from deterministic JavaScript formulas, not AI inference. Public data figures are taken from the primary sources listed on the methodology page and refreshed manually when the IRS, SSA, BLS, or DOL publishes updated values.
I am based outside the United States. The audience is US workers. The site identifies who maintains it, and the formulas, assumptions, methodology, and source notes are published in full so readers can inspect them. Numbers come from US primary sources — the IRS, SSA, BLS, and DOL — which publish them for public use regardless of who reads them. Distance does not change whether a paycheck calculation is right or wrong.
Reader feedback on calculations, sourcing, or content goes to [email protected]. Professional inquiries and methodology discussions: reachable on LinkedIn.
- SalaryLabs is currently funded by its owner. Display advertising may be enabled through Mediavine (via Journey by Mediavine) once approval is received — there are currently no affiliate links, sponsored content, data sales, or paid placements.
- I do not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. The site is informational only. For decisions that matter for your specific tax situation or legal classification, consult a licensed CPA, tax professional, or attorney.
- I am not affiliated with any employer, payroll provider, government agency, or recruiter. SalaryLabs is independent.
Related pages
Last updated July 22, 2026. Material profile changes will be reflected on this page.