There are many reasons why someone should quit their job, but one of the most common -- and legitimate! -- reasons is due to unfair compensation for work done. Or in other words, being paid less than what you're worth. Unfortunately, this is happening a lot these days.

Maybe you're in that boat. In fact, maybe you're even thinking about leaving and searching for a new job. It's a scary step to take, but sometimes it's a necessary one, so if that's the case for you, good luck! Just make sure you negotiate a good rate wherever you end up.

Or maybe you're entering a new field and you aren't sure how much your new position is actually worth. How much should you ask for when negotiating your salary? It's tricky if you don't have a reference point.

There are some well-known salary databases out there, including:

  • Glassdoor
  • PayScale
  • SalaryScout
  • Salary.com

But the truth is that most of these sites have gone astray and are now biased, outdated, or otherwise unreliable in terms of the information they provide.

On the other hand, there is one government-operated website that stays relatively up-to-date from year to year and offers the widest range of career salary information available on the web. I'm talking about the Occupational Outlook Handbook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

salary-information-occupational-outlook-handbook

In addition to salary information, you also get analyses regarding future job outlooks, work environments, breakdowns according to state and region, and details on what you need to do in order to pursue a job in said field.

So whether you're looking for the best paying tech careers or the best jobs for work-life balance, this website has all the information you'll need to make an informed decision.

Have you used the Occupational Outlook Handbook before? What else do you use to find salary data? Are you happy with your salary? Share with us down in the comments!

Image Credit: Salary Steps via Shutterstock