What this actually does: Compares your salary to what other people in your field, experience level, and location are actually making. Then tells you if you’re being robbed or if you need to humble yourself.

Why this will hurt: You’ve been telling yourself “at least I have a job” while your employer pays you ₦150,000 for work that should fetch ₦400,000. Or you think you’re balling until this calculator shows you you’re actually just average. Either way, you need to know.

How to use it:

Current annual salary first. Monthly times 12. If you’re on ₦3 million yearly, don’t type ₦3.5 million because of one-time bonus they gave you in 2022. Be real.

Your role and experience matter most. Entry level means 0 to 2 years, no matter how senior you feel. Junior is 2 to 4 years. Mid is 4 to 7. Senior is 7 to 10. Lead or manager is 10+. Pick honestly, not aspirationally.

Industry selection is crucial. Tech pays different from education. Finance pays different from NGO work. Media pays different from government. Pick your actual industry even if you wish you were in another one.

Location changes everything. Lagos salaries are higher because rent is higher. Abuja is next. Port Harcourt follows. Other cities pay less. Remote work usually falls somewhere in between. Pick where you actually work.

The moment of truth:

The calculator shows market average for someone like you. Then it tells you the gap. “You’re ₦1.2M below market” hits different when you see it in writing.

Percentage difference matters too. 10% underpaid? Maybe negotiate at your next review. 30% underpaid? Start job hunting today. 50%+ underpaid? You’re being exploited, full stop.

The advice it gives you is based on the numbers. Sometimes it says “you’re doing great.” Sometimes it says “demand what you’re worth.” Listen to it.

Example that hurts: Mid-level software developer, 5 years experience, working in a Lagos startup for ₦4 million yearly. Market average for that profile in Lagos tech: ₦7 million. You’re 43% underpaid. That’s not “learning experience.” That’s you subsidizing someone’s business with your underpaid labor.

What to do next: Screenshot the results. Update your CV. Start interviewing. When you get offers, negotiate like you know your worth because now you actually do. Don’t let loyalty to a company that’s underpaying you keep you poor.