Like the question states.
Is it possible to change any system settings such that when I hover over the volume control applet or slider, the current level is shown in a tooltip (the number)? Or is there at all some place from where I can view this.
Even the sound preferences dialog does not show the actual number, which is strange to say the least.
One way I found to get the volume level is to use the command line program alsamixer.
In the screenshot below, 65 is the current global volume level.