Use salary averages without treating them as a verdict
What national role and industry salary references can and cannot tell you.
Updated 7 October 2026 · OfferCheck editorial
A role and an industry answer different questions
A software engineer is a role; information and communication is an industry. An engineer at a bank can reasonably compare a role reference and a banking industry reference, but those figures describe different groups. Industry data includes many occupations and responsibility levels. Do not read an industry average as the expected salary for every job within it.
Check period, sample and definition
OfferCheck shows source dates with the salary references. PBS figures describe a survey period; Indeed snapshots describe the reported national base-salary sample available at the recorded date. An average from one period or sample is not directly interchangeable with another. Neither is a live quotation from employers or a city-specific estimate.
Compare like with like
If a hypothetical national base-pay reference is Rs 100,000 and an offer is Rs 120,000, the numerical difference is 20%. But if the offer includes Rs 20,000 of allowances and the reference excludes them, the comparison changes. Verify the pay components before treating a displayed percentage as evidence of a better offer. The calculator cannot infer your employer’s pay structure.
Experience and city still matter
The displayed role reference spans experience levels and does not control for skills, company size, city or working hours. OfferCheck does not invent adjustments for those factors. A higher gross salary can also come with more workdays or travel costs. Use the real-value calculation separately to understand your own expenses.
Missing information is useful information
When an exact verified role match is unavailable, the site says so and keeps the broader industry figure separate. Do not substitute an unrelated title simply to obtain a number. Research comparable advertised positions and ask employers about their salary range. Sources can become stale; report an outdated link or figure through the Contact page with the source and date.