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How WhereNext estimates what 38 professions earn across 43 countries — and, just as importantly, what the numbers are not.
How the figures are calculated
Each profession's gross is modelled as the country's primary-sourced national median wage × the role's US skill premium (its typical US salary ÷ the US national median), modulated by a tradability factor — how much a globally-traded role's pay converges toward international levels versus tracking the local wage structure. Net is computed with WhereNext's tax engine (so special regimes are reflected); PPP uses the World Bank ICP 2021 AIC index. The national median anchor is researched (national statistical offices / Eurostat); the per-profession figure is a model, NOT occupation-survey data, so treat it as a planning guide rather than a market rate for the role.
Estimates. The national median wage for each country is real, primary-sourced data. The per-profession figure is a MODEL built on top of that median — it is not an occupation-by-country salary survey. Treat it as a directional planning guide, not a market rate.
There is no single authoritative source that publishes a median gross wage for every profession in every country. National statistical offices publish economy-wide medians (which we use as the anchor); harmonised per-occupation cross-country data is sparse and inconsistent. Rather than fabricate precision, we model the per-role figure transparently from the real median.
Skill premiums compress in high-wage, egalitarian countries, so the model can over-estimate top roles there. Economy-wide medians in countries with large informal sectors understate formal-sector pay. Regulated professions (medicine, nursing, teaching) require credential recognition before the pay is attainable. Bonuses, equity and expat tax regimes are not included.