Editorial Policy

Last updated: June 10, 2026

This page documents the data sources, update timing, and corrections process for SalaryLabs calculators and explainer guides. Numerical outputs are computed by documented formulas; accompanying copy describes public rules and definitions.

1. Who We Are

SalaryLabs is an independent publisher. We are not tied to any employer, payroll provider, recruiter, or government agency, and we do not take payment to change formulas, salary benchmarks, or editorial conclusions.

This is an independent calculator project. It is not affiliated with any employer, recruiter, payroll provider, or government agency, and it does not take payment to change formulas, salary benchmarks, or content. See the About page for project context.

2. Data Sources We Use

All figures on SalaryLabs come from primary government sources. We do not use employer-submitted salary data, crowdsourced figures, or estimates from third-party aggregators as primary inputs.

• Federal tax brackets and standard deductions — IRS Revenue Procedures (Rev. Proc. 2025-32 for 2026 figures) and IRS Publication 15-T
• FICA wage base (Social Security limit) — Social Security Administration annual announcement, published each October
• Occupational wage benchmarks — Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Note: BLS OEWS releases lag approximately 12–18 months; figures reflect the most recent available release, not necessarily the current calendar year.
• Overtime rules — Department of Labor, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Section 7
• State income tax rates — Individual state revenue department publications
• Cost of living / purchasing power — Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity data
• Inflation adjustments — Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)

Primary source links are included at the bottom of each guide page.

3. What We Do Not Claim

We are explicit about what our tools can and cannot do:

• Calculator outputs are estimates. They do not capture every deduction, benefit, city tax, or payroll rule.
• Occupational salary benchmarks come from published BLS survey data, which can lag the live market by 12 to 18 months.
• State tax estimates use simplified models. For a filing-grade result, use your state's official tools or a tax professional.
• Nothing on SalaryLabs is personal tax, legal, or financial advice.

4. Update Schedule

• Tax brackets and standard deductions — Updated each January when the IRS publishes official inflation adjustments (announced October–November for the following tax year).
• FICA wage base — Updated each January following the SSA's October announcement.
• BLS wage benchmarks — Updated when BLS publishes the new OEWS release (typically May each year for the prior year's data).
• State tax rates — Reviewed each January; updated mid-year if a state enacts significant rate changes.

Every page displays a "Last updated" date. If a page looks outdated, contact us.

5. Funding, Sponsored Content, and Advertising

SalaryLabs is currently self-funded. The site has applied to Google AdSense, but it has not been approved, ads are not active, and SalaryLabs earns no AdSense revenue. We do not currently publish sponsored content.

• If sponsored content is introduced in the future, it will be clearly labeled.
• Future advertisers or sponsors will have no influence over calculator formulas, salary benchmarks, or editorial conclusions.
• We do not publish paid reviews, affiliate product endorsements, or paid salary comparisons.
• If ads are activated, placements will be reviewed to avoid interfering with tool functionality or reading flow.

6. Corrections Policy

When we find an error, or someone reports one, we:

1. Review the reported issue based on its severity, reproducibility, and the evidence provided.
2. If confirmed, deploy the correction and update the page's dateModified field.
3. For significant errors (wrong tax rate, incorrect wage base), add a correction note to the relevant page.

To report a calculation error or factual inaccuracy: [email protected]. Include the page URL, the inputs you used, and the result you received.

7. Linking and External References

External links point to government sites, official publications, or reference material we actually used. We do not sell outbound links or run link-swap schemes.

How This Applies to the Site

This page describes how source data and update timing apply to calculators and guides. If a calculator uses a simplified model, that limit is stated on the calculator page itself rather than hidden in legal copy.