Mark Twain once said, “There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.” The tech industry has been inundated with all three over the years, but one of the most damaging may very well be context-less statistics about compensation.

As anyone in a major hub knows – and in Seattle, we know particularly well – the salaries offered to tech talent can seem downright extravagant to those who work outside the industry. If you’re in the field, however, the numbers you’re looking at may seem average or even low compared to the compensation of your peers. And as quickly as the landscape changes, it can be difficult to determine what specific skills and language proficiencies are worth to the market the next time you’re on the hunt for a new opportunity.

This is important information for anyone interested in being fairly compensated, but particularly so for women in tech. Contrary to popular belief, a recent study shows women ask for pay increases as often as men—but they are 25% less likely than men to receive it. Backing up a request with reliable data about industry norms can bolster one’s position in negotiating during reviews and job offers—but showing relevant trends in compensation can be especially powerful.

For three years my employer, Greythorn, has surveyed tech professionals and published data about industry averages regarding salary ranges, benefits packages, and career motivation. And while their reports allowed people to benchmark their pay against industry norms, it was only useful as a snapshot. With few exceptions, the data was presented as-is, with little to no context from previous years. The next report, however, will highlight trends that emerge from the last three years of data. Now, it will be possible for professionals to more accurately compare their current compensation, and for job seekers to better evaluate job opportunities that come their way.

Please consider participating in our efforts to provide better, in-depth data for tech professionals. The survey is 10 minutes long and completely anonymous, and for every completed response we will donate $1 to the Apache Foundation. You can find the survey here.