Pay and resume terms
Plain definitions for the labels on the range bar and on a resume. Each term is general information.
P25
The 25th percentile of a published pay sample. About a quarter of the reported pay sits at or below this point. It is the lower edge of the usual spread, not a minimum wage and not a floor an employer owes you.
P50
The median. Half the sample is below and half is above. Averages move when a few very high figures are in the table. The median moves less, so it is the steadier anchor for a conversation.
P75
The 75th percentile. About three quarters of the reported pay sits at or below this point. Aiming here needs results someone can check. The figure is still a sample, not an offer.
ATS
Applicant tracking system. Software that stores applications and often searches for the words in the posting. It does not understand a paraphrase as reliably as a person does. Put the posting’s noun in a bullet you can explain.
Keyword gap
A phrase the posting repeats that your bullets do not prove yet. Close it by naming work you have done, or leave it off the page. Do not paste the phrase into a line you cannot defend in an interview.
Executive MBA
A graduate management degree shaped for people who keep working. An online format is one way to do that. Compare the years, the cost, and what your target postings ask for. Holding the degree is not a promise of a higher salary.
For general information only. This is not financial, investment, insurance, tax or legal advice. Please check official sources or a qualified professional for your situation.