How to use the salary checker
Tell Artha your job title and responsibilities, total experience, work city and whether you work remotely, in an office or in a hybrid arrangement. The assistant also asks about your industry, company size or type and current salary. It collects these details conversationally, usually over four to six exchanges, before producing a comparison.
State whether your figure is monthly pay or annual CTC, and whether it includes variable pay. The tool accepts either period, but CTC, fixed gross pay and take-home pay are not interchangeable. Check the monthly figure in the result before using the comparison. You do not need to upload a payslip or identify your employer.
Salary estimate methodology and limits
Our backend uses Claude with a structured salary-analysis prompt for India, including reference ranges and scoring instructions. It asks the model to consider role, experience, city, industry, employer type and the salary you provide. The response can include a fairness score, an estimated range and median, an approximate percentile, negotiation suggestions, skills to explore and a possible next salary target.
These figures are generated by the model. They are not calculated from a disclosed, live survey of comparable employees, and no independently validated salary formula is used. A displayed median or percentile is an estimate, not proof of your position in a measured distribution. The range may miss recent hiring changes, specialised responsibilities or compensation arrangements. Treat labels such as 'underpaid' as prompts for research, not a verdict on your worth.
Before discussing a raise
Collect current vacancies with published pay, compare similar responsibilities and experience, and separate fixed pay from bonus, benefits and equity. Use more than one source and note when each comparison was published. Prepare examples of your contribution and ask about your employer's review process. A suggested target is a starting point for a discussion, not an offer or a guaranteed increase.
Illustrative example: comparing like with like
Consider a fictional support analyst in Pune with three years of experience who reports annual CTC of ₹6,60,000. Dividing that figure by twelve gives ₹55,000 per month for the conversation; it does not establish monthly take-home pay. If the package includes a bonus, the analyst should explain that before interpreting any estimated range.
The useful result would explain which parts of the profile influenced the estimate and suggest questions for a salary discussion. This example is not a salary benchmark for support analysts or Pune. No market range or fairness score is asserted here, and no particular employer is represented.
Salary Check: your questions answered
Is this a verified salary benchmark?
No. The comparison is AI-generated rather than a live salary survey. Check recent role-specific vacancies and other reliable salary sources before relying on it.
Can I enter annual CTC?
Yes. Clearly label your figure as annual CTC and describe any variable component. Check the result's monthly figure, because CTC is not the same as take-home salary.
Why does the checker ask for my city?
Location and work arrangement give the model context. They do not provide a verified city premium, and the tool cannot confirm what a particular local employer pays.
Does a low fairness score mean I should quit?
No. Investigate the comparison, benefits, responsibilities and your financial circumstances first. Do not make a major employment decision based only on this estimate.
Is my salary information stored?
The application can retain chat logs, including the messages you submit. Avoid payslips, bank details, identity documents and other sensitive information. Read the privacy page before sharing.
Will negotiation tips guarantee a raise?
No. The suggestions can help you organise a conversation, but employer budgets, performance expectations and hiring conditions determine actual outcomes.