Use metropolitan pay data without confusing geographic boundaries

Metropolitan statistical areas can cross city boundaries and differ from everyday city or Bay Area names. Read the formal geography before interpreting a figure.

Occupational pay, industry averages, employment and vacancies answer different questions. A technology-industry average is not a developer wage, and employment is not current vacancies.

For city comparisons, align source, period and measure. When sources differ, keep their descriptions separate rather than inventing an easier-to-get-hired score.