About MetroBasis
MetroBasis is a free compensation research site. We combine official government wage, housing and tax data so you can see what a job pays where you live, what you keep after taxes, and whether it covers the local cost of living.
What we publish
- Salary benchmarks (10th to 90th percentile) for 67 occupations across 657 U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan areas.
- After-tax paycheck calculations for all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, including federal income tax, FICA and selected local income taxes.
- Cost-of-living, rent affordability and living-wage benchmarks for each metro area.
- Side-by-side comparisons of cities, occupations, relocation moves and job offers.
Where the numbers come from
Every figure starts from public, official sources: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, HUD Fair Market Rents, the Economic Policy Institute Family Budget Calculator, the O*NET database and current federal and state tax rules. Our methodology page documents each source, its vintage and exactly how we transform it.
Independence
MetroBasis is operated by Metro Basis. We are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, HUD, the Department of Labor, the IRS or any other government agency, and no employer or advertiser influences our data.
Who maintains the data
Metro Basis compiles and maintains every figure on the site, following the steps on our methodology page, and reviews every reported error. Data last updated November 2, 2026.
Corrections
If a number looks wrong, tell us. Email [email protected] with the page address and what you expected to see; we review every report and correct verified errors.