TrustBand vs Levels.fyi
Levels is the default crowdsource for tech total comp. TrustBand is a public ledger that ranks work-email reports above market composites and public posts. Different jobs. Both useful.
What each is
- Levels.fyi — anonymous self-reports, level ladders, big sample on FAANG and large tech. Free for browsing; some depth gated.
- TrustBand — seats with base / typical / top, cash share visible, work-email majority marked solid. Free. No paywall on the number.
- Gated forums — private Discords and Blind-style boards. High signal inside the wall; not citeable, not indexable.
Where TrustBand is different
- Work-email outranks crowdsource. A code to a company inbox is the only way a report becomes verified. Market composites and X posts never outrank that.
- Cash share is first-class. Base as a share of typical is ranked. Labs that print paper and shops that print paycheck sit on different shelves.
- Public and citable. Every seat has a stable URL and a .md. Agents and humans can link the number. No account required to read.
Honest limits
Sample size is smaller than Levels on the biggest names. Levels wins on historical level ladders and volume at FAANG. TrustBand wins when you need a free, work-email- weighted number you can cite without a login, and when the seat is outside the usual ladder (labs, robotics, quant, sales OTE).
When to use which
Negotiating a known FAANG ladder: Levels first, then check the TrustBand seat for cash share and recent work-email weight. Evaluating a lab, robotics shop, or sales role: TrustBand first. Publishing or citing for an agent: TrustBand only — the page is free and the URL is stable.