For those who do want to compare their wages with other working stiffs', the Web is a good place to start. Workers of the world, log on. The tables run from the bottom rung of the corporate ladder up to company officer positions, and each job listing includes how many salaries went into the average and how many companies responded. The posted salaries don't account for geographical region, company size or specific industry. Unless you're looking for a job in California, skip the rest of this site and click right into the Salary Info section, which posts links to more than 300 surveys.
General surveys focus on cost of living, benefits and negotiating a salary.
These surveys are culled from trade associations and journals, employment and referral agencies, magazines and such, but the hosts recommend that visitors look at regional data. We thought we'd say that right up front, so the nosy don't waste any company time. Obviously, this page is designed and used by human resources professionals on a subscription basis, but Salary Source does have some free information helpful to lowly worker bees. Articles on compensation plans and labor laws can help folks understand whether their company is playing fair. Plug in your two cities and take a look.