Sources we use
We use primary sources only: BLS OEWS wage estimates and the Occupational Outlook Handbook; O*NET OnLine (U.S. Department of Labor); federal regulations (eCFR) and agency pages from the Department of Labor, FMCSA and EPA; state licensing boards; and public colleges’ own published program costs. Salary aggregators, job boards, school marketing claims and anonymous self-reports are never used as sources of fact.
How calculators are checked
Every calculator uses published, standard formulas. The code is covered by automated tests that check known answers (for example, a single filer earning the BLS May 2025 national median for electricians keeps the take-home amount our tests check by hand after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare). We show the formula next to each tool so anyone can verify the result by hand.
What we will not publish
- Affiliate links, paid school or trucking-school listings, recruiter referrals or lead forms.
- Salary figures from job boards, ads or anonymous self-reports presented as fact.
- Claims we cannot support with a source.
Updates and corrections
Each page shows the date it was last updated. BLS publishes new OEWS wage estimates each spring; the IRS sets tax brackets each fall; states change license rules and fees through the year. When any of those land, we reload the numbers, rerun every calculator test and only then move a page’s date. If you find an error, tell us through the contact page and we will review it and correct it.