How to Build Pay Grades
and Salary Ranges
Mykkah Herner, MA, CCP
Compensation Consultant,
PayScale, Inc.
Laura Richardson
Client Executive, PayScale, Inc.
www.payscale.com
2500 Customers

Creator of the largest database of individual
compensation profiles in the world, PayScale, Inc.
provides an immediate and precise snapshot of
current market salaries to employees and employers
through its online tools and software.

35 Million Salary
Profiles

PayScale’s products are powered by innovative
search and query algorithms that dynamically
acquire, analyze and aggregate compensation
information for millions of individuals in real time.

13,000 Positions

250 Compensable
Factors

Publisher of the quarterly PayScale IndexTM,
PayScale's subscription software products for
employers include PayScale MarketRateTM and
PayScale InsightTM. Among PayScale's 2,500
corporate customers are organizations small and
large across industries including Mozilla, Tully’s
Coffee, Clemson University and the United States
Postal Service.

www.payscale.com
AGENDA
o Why pay structure.
o Requirements for building structure.

o Building Structure.
o

Step 1: Identify multiple schedules.

o

Step 2: Determine pay grades.

o

Step 3: Develop ranges.

o

Step 4: Assign grades to positions & adjust for internal equity.

o Using pay ranges.
o

Compa-Ratio.

o Maintaining structure.
www.payscale.com
Why Pay Structure?
o Clarifies the market and internal value for each job, and provides
a way to manage employee pay effectively.
o Quantifies compensation costs & enables budget decisions.
o Validates compensation strategy & aligns to business goals.
o Provides a tool to talk with employees about development.
o Ensures pay equity.

o Determines pay for non-benchmark jobs.
o Allows ease of administration.

www.payscale.com
Requirements
o Compensation philosophy.
o Organization-wide job evaluations.
o External market analysis.

www.payscale.com
Pay Structure Elements
Pay Structure Includes:
Pay Schedules

o Sets of Pay Grades, multiple markets grouped (geography, industry, etc).
Pay Grades
o a label for a group of jobs with similar relative internal worth.
o associated with a pay range.
Pay Ranges
o the upper and lower bounds of compensation.
www.payscale.com
Step 1: Identify Multiple Schedules
o Provides a way of grouping together multiple labor markets,
using the same set of pay grades.
o Streamlines pay structure.
o Consideration: how complex is your organization?
o

Industries and/or lines of business.
o

o

Sales.

o
o

Retail & Social Services.

Engineers vs Admin.

Locations.
www.payscale.com
6 Different Pay Schedules:
o Home Schedule– 3 labor markets, within 2.5% of HQ
o Schedule A, Minus 15% Schedule – 4 labor markets

o Schedule B, Minus 10% Schedule – 7 labor markets
o Schedule C, Minus 5% Schedule – 4 labor markets
o Schedule D, Plus 5% Schedule – open
o Schedule E, Plus 10% Schedule – 1 labor market

www.payscale.com
Step 2: Determine Pay Grades
o There are no fixed rules for every organization.
o Decide how many grades you will have. Number of pay grades varies in
response to:
o

The size of the organization.

o

The vertical distance between the highest and lowest level job.

o

How finely the organization defines jobs and differentiates between them
(i.e. levels).

o

The pay increase and promotion policy of the organization.

o Determine the definition of each grade.

www.payscale.com
Step 3: Develop Ranges
Calculations & Helpful formulas:
o Midpoint Differential.
o

Distance between midpoints

o

=(MidB-MidA)/MidA

o Range Spread.
o

Distance between bottom and top of range

o

=(Max-Min)/Min

o

Typical range spreads are 30% to 60%

o Min relative to Mid.
o

=Mid/(1+(Range Spread/2))

o Max relative to Min.
o

=Min*(1+Range Spread)

Range
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q

Range
Width
40%
41%
42%
43%
44%
45%
46%
47%
48%
49%
50%
52%
54%
56%
58%
60%
62%

Min
$8.50
$9.75
$11.25
$12.75
$14.75
$16.75
$19.25
$22.00
$25.25
$29.00
$33.25
$37.75
$43.25
$49.25
$56.25
$64.25
$73.25

Mid
$10.25
$11.75
$13.50
$15.50
$18.00
$20.50
$23.75
$27.25
$31.25
$36.00
$41.50
$47.75
$54.75
$63.00
$72.50
$83.50
$96.00

Max
$12.00
$13.75
$16.00
$18.25
$21.25
$24.50
$28.25
$32.50
$37.50
$43.25
$49.75
$57.50
$66.50
$76.75
$88.75
$102.75
$118.50

www.payscale.com
Considerations:
o Difference at the base vs top of structure.
o

Bigger range spread at the top, narrower at the base.

o

Time to proficiency.

o

Differentiation of skill sets.

o

Manager input.

o Overlap between pay ranges.
o

Long tenure/high performing employees can earn higher wages.

o

Provides more cost effective career progression within the org.
Step 4: Assign Grades to Positions;
Adjust for Internal Equity
o Align positions to structure by matching market value with closest
range midpoint.
o Adjust for internal equity.
o Positions with similar level of responsibility and value to the organization.
o Where market is between two grades, use internal equity to tip.
Internal Title

Grade

Internal Title

Grade

Internal Title

Grade

Billing & Collections Specialist I

11

Accounts Payable Specialist II

13

Branch Inside Sales III

14

Member Services Specialist I

11

Billing & Collections III or TL

13

Corporate Accountant I

14

Service Delivery Agent I

11

Branch Inside Sales II

13

NOC Technician I

14

Desktop Support Technician

13

TAC Engineer II

14

Accounts Payable Specialist I

12

Marketing Coordinator

13

Billing & Collections Specialist II

12

Office Manager

13

Corporate Accountant II

15

Branch Inside Sales I

12

Project Coordinator

13

NOC Technician II

15

Member Services Specialist II

12

Quality Assurance Analyst II or TL

13

Project Manager I

15

Quality Assurance Analyst I

12

Service Delivery Agent III or TL

13

Software Development QA I

15

Service Delivery Agent II

12

TAC Engineer I

13

TAC Engineer III or TL

15
www.payscale.com
How do you use the pay range?
Employee Placement in Range.
o Min = New Hire.
o Midpoint = Proficient & meeting performance expectations.
o Above midpoint = Takes into account tenure, performance,
education – whatever org values most.

Guidelines or Policies.
o Develop guidelines or policies about:
o Where new employees enter ranges.
o How current employees move within ranges.

o What happens when an employee is promoted?
o How much discretion do managers have?
o Get specific, where it makes sense.
www.payscale.com
Metrics for Managing EE
Pay with Ranges
Metrics for managing EE Pay with Ranges
Compa-ratio and Range Penetration are indicators of how employees are performing
relative to the ranges.
Calculations:
o Range Penetration =(EE Pay-Min)/(Max-Min)
o Compa-Ratio

= EE Pay / Midpoint

In Practice:

o Use them to get specific in your policies or guidelines.
o Range Penetration:
o

0% is Min, 50% is Mid, 100% is Max.

o Compa-Ratio:
o

1 is Midpoint.

o

Compa-ratio range varies by comp strategy and more, starting guideline is .9-1.1
www.payscale.com
Maintaining
Compensation Structure
o New positions.
o Evaluate ranges to market.
o

Annually based on market research.

o

Shift ranges as necessary (2-3 yrs).

o Evaluate grade assignments.
o

Revised job duties.

o

Hot jobs.

www.payscale.com
PayScale Delivers Where Other Compensation Providers Fall Short
PayScale leads the world in compensation knowledge with the freshest and most
detailed data from over 35 million salary profiles. More than 2500 organizations
use PayScale’s software and intelligence to get the greatest return on their talent.
Smart businesses use PayScale Insight to recruit, retain and motivate their people.
Visit our blog: http://blogs.payscale.com/compensation/
Join our Group on LinkedIN: Compensation Today: HR Best Practices

Mykkah Herner, MA, CCP
Compensation Consultant,
PayScale, Inc.
Laura Richardson
Client Executive, PayScale, Inc.
www.payscale.com

How to Build Pay Grades and Salary Ranges

  • 1.
    How to BuildPay Grades and Salary Ranges Mykkah Herner, MA, CCP Compensation Consultant, PayScale, Inc. Laura Richardson Client Executive, PayScale, Inc. www.payscale.com
  • 2.
    2500 Customers Creator ofthe largest database of individual compensation profiles in the world, PayScale, Inc. provides an immediate and precise snapshot of current market salaries to employees and employers through its online tools and software. 35 Million Salary Profiles PayScale’s products are powered by innovative search and query algorithms that dynamically acquire, analyze and aggregate compensation information for millions of individuals in real time. 13,000 Positions 250 Compensable Factors Publisher of the quarterly PayScale IndexTM, PayScale's subscription software products for employers include PayScale MarketRateTM and PayScale InsightTM. Among PayScale's 2,500 corporate customers are organizations small and large across industries including Mozilla, Tully’s Coffee, Clemson University and the United States Postal Service. www.payscale.com
  • 3.
    AGENDA o Why paystructure. o Requirements for building structure. o Building Structure. o Step 1: Identify multiple schedules. o Step 2: Determine pay grades. o Step 3: Develop ranges. o Step 4: Assign grades to positions & adjust for internal equity. o Using pay ranges. o Compa-Ratio. o Maintaining structure. www.payscale.com
  • 4.
    Why Pay Structure? oClarifies the market and internal value for each job, and provides a way to manage employee pay effectively. o Quantifies compensation costs & enables budget decisions. o Validates compensation strategy & aligns to business goals. o Provides a tool to talk with employees about development. o Ensures pay equity. o Determines pay for non-benchmark jobs. o Allows ease of administration. www.payscale.com
  • 5.
    Requirements o Compensation philosophy. oOrganization-wide job evaluations. o External market analysis. www.payscale.com
  • 6.
    Pay Structure Elements PayStructure Includes: Pay Schedules o Sets of Pay Grades, multiple markets grouped (geography, industry, etc). Pay Grades o a label for a group of jobs with similar relative internal worth. o associated with a pay range. Pay Ranges o the upper and lower bounds of compensation. www.payscale.com
  • 7.
    Step 1: IdentifyMultiple Schedules o Provides a way of grouping together multiple labor markets, using the same set of pay grades. o Streamlines pay structure. o Consideration: how complex is your organization? o Industries and/or lines of business. o o Sales. o o Retail & Social Services. Engineers vs Admin. Locations. www.payscale.com
  • 8.
    6 Different PaySchedules: o Home Schedule– 3 labor markets, within 2.5% of HQ o Schedule A, Minus 15% Schedule – 4 labor markets o Schedule B, Minus 10% Schedule – 7 labor markets o Schedule C, Minus 5% Schedule – 4 labor markets o Schedule D, Plus 5% Schedule – open o Schedule E, Plus 10% Schedule – 1 labor market www.payscale.com
  • 9.
    Step 2: DeterminePay Grades o There are no fixed rules for every organization. o Decide how many grades you will have. Number of pay grades varies in response to: o The size of the organization. o The vertical distance between the highest and lowest level job. o How finely the organization defines jobs and differentiates between them (i.e. levels). o The pay increase and promotion policy of the organization. o Determine the definition of each grade. www.payscale.com
  • 10.
    Step 3: DevelopRanges Calculations & Helpful formulas: o Midpoint Differential. o Distance between midpoints o =(MidB-MidA)/MidA o Range Spread. o Distance between bottom and top of range o =(Max-Min)/Min o Typical range spreads are 30% to 60% o Min relative to Mid. o =Mid/(1+(Range Spread/2)) o Max relative to Min. o =Min*(1+Range Spread) Range A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q Range Width 40% 41% 42% 43% 44% 45% 46% 47% 48% 49% 50% 52% 54% 56% 58% 60% 62% Min $8.50 $9.75 $11.25 $12.75 $14.75 $16.75 $19.25 $22.00 $25.25 $29.00 $33.25 $37.75 $43.25 $49.25 $56.25 $64.25 $73.25 Mid $10.25 $11.75 $13.50 $15.50 $18.00 $20.50 $23.75 $27.25 $31.25 $36.00 $41.50 $47.75 $54.75 $63.00 $72.50 $83.50 $96.00 Max $12.00 $13.75 $16.00 $18.25 $21.25 $24.50 $28.25 $32.50 $37.50 $43.25 $49.75 $57.50 $66.50 $76.75 $88.75 $102.75 $118.50 www.payscale.com
  • 11.
    Considerations: o Difference atthe base vs top of structure. o Bigger range spread at the top, narrower at the base. o Time to proficiency. o Differentiation of skill sets. o Manager input. o Overlap between pay ranges. o Long tenure/high performing employees can earn higher wages. o Provides more cost effective career progression within the org.
  • 12.
    Step 4: AssignGrades to Positions; Adjust for Internal Equity o Align positions to structure by matching market value with closest range midpoint. o Adjust for internal equity. o Positions with similar level of responsibility and value to the organization. o Where market is between two grades, use internal equity to tip. Internal Title Grade Internal Title Grade Internal Title Grade Billing & Collections Specialist I 11 Accounts Payable Specialist II 13 Branch Inside Sales III 14 Member Services Specialist I 11 Billing & Collections III or TL 13 Corporate Accountant I 14 Service Delivery Agent I 11 Branch Inside Sales II 13 NOC Technician I 14 Desktop Support Technician 13 TAC Engineer II 14 Accounts Payable Specialist I 12 Marketing Coordinator 13 Billing & Collections Specialist II 12 Office Manager 13 Corporate Accountant II 15 Branch Inside Sales I 12 Project Coordinator 13 NOC Technician II 15 Member Services Specialist II 12 Quality Assurance Analyst II or TL 13 Project Manager I 15 Quality Assurance Analyst I 12 Service Delivery Agent III or TL 13 Software Development QA I 15 Service Delivery Agent II 12 TAC Engineer I 13 TAC Engineer III or TL 15 www.payscale.com
  • 13.
    How do youuse the pay range? Employee Placement in Range. o Min = New Hire. o Midpoint = Proficient & meeting performance expectations. o Above midpoint = Takes into account tenure, performance, education – whatever org values most. Guidelines or Policies. o Develop guidelines or policies about: o Where new employees enter ranges. o How current employees move within ranges. o What happens when an employee is promoted? o How much discretion do managers have? o Get specific, where it makes sense. www.payscale.com
  • 14.
    Metrics for ManagingEE Pay with Ranges Metrics for managing EE Pay with Ranges Compa-ratio and Range Penetration are indicators of how employees are performing relative to the ranges. Calculations: o Range Penetration =(EE Pay-Min)/(Max-Min) o Compa-Ratio = EE Pay / Midpoint In Practice: o Use them to get specific in your policies or guidelines. o Range Penetration: o 0% is Min, 50% is Mid, 100% is Max. o Compa-Ratio: o 1 is Midpoint. o Compa-ratio range varies by comp strategy and more, starting guideline is .9-1.1 www.payscale.com
  • 15.
    Maintaining Compensation Structure o Newpositions. o Evaluate ranges to market. o Annually based on market research. o Shift ranges as necessary (2-3 yrs). o Evaluate grade assignments. o Revised job duties. o Hot jobs. www.payscale.com
  • 16.
    PayScale Delivers WhereOther Compensation Providers Fall Short PayScale leads the world in compensation knowledge with the freshest and most detailed data from over 35 million salary profiles. More than 2500 organizations use PayScale’s software and intelligence to get the greatest return on their talent. Smart businesses use PayScale Insight to recruit, retain and motivate their people. Visit our blog: http://blogs.payscale.com/compensation/ Join our Group on LinkedIN: Compensation Today: HR Best Practices Mykkah Herner, MA, CCP Compensation Consultant, PayScale, Inc. Laura Richardson Client Executive, PayScale, Inc. www.payscale.com