Ask HN: What are the best tools for salary negotiation and career advancement?

Hello. I made a smurf account to ask this question. I’m on my second “real” job in the tech world where I moved over from a smaller, but well known tech company in an entry level SWE role to roughly the same role in a much larger company, but have been getting paid about the same. In the mean time, I’ve delivered 2 real projects, one of which I’ve had total ownership of. Considering my first job wasn’t located in the Bay Area, I feel as if I’ve started from a much lower pay scale that will compoundingly affect me. What are the best tools to show my manager with whom I’ve asked for a one on one person meeting, to show some empirical data about my market value? And what are some best case practices for being upfront and transparent about these negotiations. Anecdotally a coworker and mentor I’ve found have intimated that I should’ve been hired at a more senior position and that regardless of position I should be paid more. FWIW I think that I am and that others consider me a good team player. I’m trying to convey that I’m worth more to both other companies, and internally to our company as well. EDIT: Fixed a broken sentence for clarity, and added one too.