Compensation benchmarks help employers attract top talent with competitive offers and give professionals a better understanding of what their skills and experience are worth in today’s market. The 2027 Salary Guide From Robert Half delivers projected starting salaries in 7 professional fields, market insights and total rewards trends to help business leaders and job seekers make more informed decisions.
The salary benchmarks in Robert Half’s Salary Guide are the result of a rigorous, multistep process designed to reflect projected market trends for 2027. Figures for each position are based on actual compensation for candidates Robert Half has placed nationwide. Robert Half recruiting professionals further validate the benchmarks against real-world hiring and compensation trends. This approach combines extensive data with deep recruiter expertise.The guide’s non-salary data is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. Respondents include hiring managers and workers at small (10-99 employees), midsize (100-999 employees) and large (1,000-plus employees) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across the United States.
2027 Salary Guide at a glance
The Salary Guide From Robert Half is the original—trusted since 1950 by employers, job seekers and industry leaders.
425+ roles benchmarked
2.3M+ salaries analyzed
15,000+ skills tracked
Salary data for more than 250 U.S. markets
What the salary figures represent
The figures in the Salary Guide represent starting compensation—the pay offered to someone entering a new position or joining a new employer. They don’t include annual merit increases or bonuses.Starting compensation can vary significantly based on a professional’s skills, experience and certifications. Factors such as industry; company size, complexity and revenue; and demand for the role can also influence an offer. To reflect this variability, the Salary Guide presents compensation in 3 levels:Low: The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is still developing core skills.Mid: The candidate has moderate experience in the role or one similar, meets most requirements and may hold transferable skills or relevant certifications.High: The candidate has extensive experience in the role, demonstrates advanced skills and often brings specialized certifications or industry experience.The low figure is not the bottom of a salary range, and the high figure is not a maximum or cap. Rather, these levels represent the most common starting compensation points in today’s market.Other factors can influence salary, including but not limited to:Industry: Organizations in high-growth sectors where talent is in high demand may offer increased pay for specialized skills.Company size, complexity and revenue: Larger organizations with more complex structures and higher revenue typically offer higher salaries to top candidates.Demand for a role or skill: Salaries may increase for business-critical roles or when specialized talent is in short supply.
How to use Robert Half’s Salary Guide
Our annual Salary Guide provides detailed information on compensation trends across roles, experience levels and U.S. markets. Organizations can use the data and insights to identify pay gaps, make more informed compensation decisions and remain competitive for talent. The guide also offers professionals valuable context for evaluating offers.Employers can use Robert Half’s Salary Guide to:Set starting salaries for new positionsDevelop or update job descriptionsPrepare offers and respond to salary expectationsCompare current pay with prevailing market levelsSupport workforce plans and compensation budgetsProfessionals can use the guide to:Research salaries before beginning a job searchCompare related roles and potential career pathsEvaluate opportunities in different marketsUnderstand how skills, experience and certifications may affect starting payYou can browse salaries by professional field and compare related roles. Job description pages provide an overview of the responsibilities, qualifications and skills commonly associated with each position.
Customize salaries with our Salary Calculator
Go to Salary CalculatorThe salaries published in the Salary Guide are national benchmarks, but compensation can vary significantly by location. With Robert Half’s Salary Calculator, you can search by job title and city to find 2027 starting salaries for a specific position in more than 250 U.S. markets.Robert Half determines local market variances using insights from its data science team and talent solutions professionals, taking into account factors such as:Local cost of livingSupply of and demand for skilled professionalsThe concentration of high-paying industries within a metropolitan areaFor employers, localized data can provide a stronger basis for developing competitive offers and communicating salary ranges. Professionals can use the same information to evaluate opportunities in their market or understand how compensation may differ when considering a career move.
Look beyond salary to total rewards
Starting salary is important, but it’s only one part of the value professionals consider when evaluating an opportunity. Bonuses, benefits, well-being programs, workplace flexibility and career development can all contribute to the appeal of an employer’s total rewards package. Bonuses and equity may also be tied to an offer, extending compensation beyond base salary.
Robert Half’s Salary Guide explores how employers are approaching these investments as salary budgets tighten, benefits costs rise and organizations balance workforce priorities with spending on AI and technology modernization. It offers insight into:
Employers: Use compensation benchmarks to support retention
Hire talentSalary benchmarking isn’t only useful when setting pay for new hires. It can also help employers assess whether current salaries remain competitive, especially for critical roles and positions requiring specialized skills, and identify where pay adjustments could support talent retention.Used alongside internal compensation data, external salary benchmarks can also provide a market reference point for pay equity reviews across similar roles and experience levels. When base salary flexibility is limited, a total rewards strategy offers another way to recognize and retain valued employees.If you need support finding professionals with the skills your organization needs, connect with Robert Half to hire talent.
Professionals: Keep current salary trends in focus when planning a career move
Search jobsRobert Half’s Salary Guide can help professionals compare starting pay for roles they are considering and understand how skills, experience, certifications and transferable experience may factor into an offer.Reviewing the low, mid and high benchmarks can also help job seekers determine which level best reflects their professional background and evaluate starting salary alongside role responsibilities and the complete total rewards package. That broader context can be useful when comparing job offers and preparing for compensation discussions with a prospective employer.When you’re ready to put these salary insights to use, search Robert Half jobs that match your skills and experience.
Put salary insights into action
Hire talentWhether you’re building a team or planning your next career move, Robert Half can help you take the next step.
About the 2027 Salary Guide From Robert Half
Explore the 2027 Salary GuideThe 2027 Salary Guide provides projected starting salaries for more than 425 roles in 7 professional fields:Finance and accountingTechnologyMarketing and creativeLegalAdministrative and customer supportNon-clinical healthcareHuman resourcesIt also features data and insights on U.S. compensation and total rewards trends. From benchmarking pay to planning hiring and evaluating career opportunities, the guide gives employers and professionals current market information to support compensation decisions.
