Report Methodology

Transparent documentation of data sources, research methods, and limitations for the 2026 Flex Work Wage Report.

Data Sources

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

https://www.bls.gov/oes/

Primary source for wage range data (entry-level, early-career, mid-career, experienced, top earners) and employment statistics by occupation and geographic area.

Reliability: authoritativeLast Accessed: 2026-01-20

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

https://www.bls.gov/qcew/

Used for industry-level employment trends and regional wage variations.

Reliability: authoritativeLast Accessed: 2026-01-20

Indeed Hiring Lab Wage Tracker

https://www.hiringlab.org/

Public posted-wage data from Indeed job listings (CC-BY-4.0). Used to supplement BLS data with more recent advertised wage trends. Reflects advertised wages, not actual earnings.

Reliability: highLast Accessed: 2026-02-01

US Census American Community Survey

https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Used for cost-of-living adjustments and regional purchasing power calculations.

Reliability: authoritativeLast Accessed: 2026-01-15

Toast Restaurant Technology Report 2025

https://pos.toasttab.com/resources/restaurant-success

Industry-specific data on tip income for hospitality roles.

Reliability: highLast Accessed: 2026-01-10

Research Methodology

Wage Data Collection

BLS OEWS May 2025 release (most recent annual data)

Uses official BLS wage range estimates where available. For roles not directly mapped to BLS SOC codes, estimates are derived from industry market data and industry benchmarks.
BLS OEWS employment estimates for May 2025 survey period.
State and metropolitan area wage data from BLS OEWS.

Year-over-Year Comparison

BLS OEWS May 2024 release
Percentage change calculated as: ((2025 median - 2024 median) / 2024 median) × 100
Uses CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) from BLS for real wage calculations.

Cost of Living Adjustments

Census ACS 5-year estimates (2020-2024)

Index Base: National average = 100
Calculation: Adjusted wage = (Nominal wage × 100) / COL Index
Components: Housing (40%), Food (15%), Transportation (15%), Healthcare (10%), Other (20%)

Limitations

•BLS OEWS data reflects May 2025 survey period. Market conditions may have changed since data collection.
•Percentile estimates for some roles are derived from market data rather than official BLS statistics.
•Tip income data represents averages and may vary significantly by individual establishment and worker performance.
•Cost-of-living adjustments use metro-level indices; actual costs vary within metropolitan areas.
•Employment data reflects survey estimates; actual employment may differ.
•Year-over-year comparisons assume consistent methodology between survey periods.

Data Update Schedule

Frequency: Annual

Next Update: 2027-02-28

Data Refresh: Quarterly (when new BLS data available)

Report will be updated annually with new BLS OEWS release (typically May). Quarterly updates may include industry market data refreshes.

Data Quality

Coverage

49 occupations across 6 industries

Geographic Coverage

All 50 states + DC, 50+ metropolitan areas

Employment Coverage

Approximately 15+ million workers in covered occupations

Data Completeness

95%+ of occupations have complete wage range data

Confidence Level: High for BLS-sourced data. Medium-High for market-derived estimates.

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