Editorial & research standards
Why you can trust our numbers
These are the standing rules behind every figure we publish. They exist so that a working accountant, a hiring manager, or a reporter can rely on SalaryCPA without having to take our word for it.
Last updated June 2026 · Standing editorial policy
SalaryCPA is a data-trust product. Credibility is the entire value proposition, so our standards are deliberately conservative and applied consistently across every page. Where the methodology documents how we compute figures and the data-sources page documents where they come from, this page documents the principles that govern both.
Principle 01
Every figure is classified and labeled
Each salary number belongs to exactly one class — Verified (BLS OEWS), Estimate (modeled), or an aggregate of moderated submissions — and that class is shown next to the figure, not buried in a footnote. A reader should never have to guess what kind of number they are looking at.
Principle 02
We never fabricate a figure
We do not invent, round up, or “fill in” a number to make a page look complete. If we cannot source or model a figure honestly, we omit it. A missing number is always preferable to a fabricated one.
Principle 03
Provenance travels with the data
Every wage record preserves its source name, source URL, source year, import method, and import timestamp. Our verified baseline is the BLS OEWS measurement for Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), currently the May 2025 release.
Principle 04
Estimates are derived transparently
Modeled figures are the verified baseline scaled by documented multipliers for role, experience, credential, employer type, and industry. The exact multipliers are published in full, the calculator shows which factors it applied, and none of it is presented as measured data.
Principle 05
We suppress thin samples
Company-level pay stays hidden until enough verified submissions exist to report it responsibly, and when we do publish it we disclose the sample size. A thin sample can mislead or re-identify an individual, so a withheld figure is the safer figure.
Principle 06
Advertising never moves a number
Sponsored content is clearly labeled, kept separate from the data, and never placed above a salary answer. No advertiser can buy a better figure, a higher ranking, or an exception to our suppression rules. Editorial independence is non-negotiable.
Accountability
Corrections policy
We treat accuracy as an obligation, not a courtesy. If a published figure is wrong — whether from a source revision, an import error, or a modeling mistake — we correct it promptly and, where a correction materially changes a number, note that it was updated.
Estimates only ever become Verified when real data backs them, never by editorial decision. To report an error or question a figure, email perrygrimaldi@gmail.com and a person will review it.
Not financial advice. Our figures are informational research and may not reflect any specific individual's pay. They exclude benefits, equity, and cost-of-living differences. Always corroborate with multiple sources before making career or compensation decisions.