What is a salary structure? (Definition and How To Develop One)

by | Published on Jun 17, 2022 | Last Updated on Jan 20, 2024 | Compensation

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Salary Structuring Guide

Introduction

A salary structure is a guide that showcases the different ranges of pay for specific jobs. It can also indicate the pay grade for each position. Typically, employers use different salaries depending on their business strategies. There are a few components that typically make up a salary structure:

  • Minimum Earnings: The lowest amount an employee can earn in a specific position.
  • Maximum Earnings: The highest amount an employee can earn in a specific position.
  • Midpoint: The median salary for a specific position.
  • Grade Level: A way to categorize positions by level or seniority.

Employers usually develop salary structures based on internal factors, such as the company’s budget, and external factors, such as the going rate for similar positions in the market.

When developing a salary structure, employers should consider a few key things:

  1. The company’s budget
  2. The going rate for similar positions in the market
  3. The company’s compensation philosophy
  4. Internal equity (how salaries compare within the company)
  5. External competitiveness (how salaries compare to the market)

Once a salary structure is developed, employers can use it as a guideline when making decisions about employee compensation. It can also be helpful when conducting salary surveys or benchmarking studies.

Tips for reviewing a salary structure

When reviewing a salary structure, employers should make sure that it is:

  • Aligned with the company’s business goals
  • Competitive with the market
  • Equity within the company

If you are an employer and are looking to develop a salary structure for your company, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you’ll need to consider the budget of your company and how much you’re willing to spend on employee salaries. You’ll also need to look at the going rate for similar positions in the market. Additionally, you’ll need to think about your company’s compensation philosophy and what you believe is fair and competitive pay for your employees. Finally, you’ll want to make sure that there is equity within the company, meaning that salaries are comparable between different departments and job positions.

Once you have all of this information, you can start to develop a salary structure for your company. This will be a helpful guide when making decisions about employee compensation. It can also be useful when conducting salary surveys or benchmarking studies.

Why do you need structured employee compensation?

A salary structure is important for several reasons. First, it can help you stay within your budget when making decisions about employee compensation. Additionally, it can help ensure that your employees are paid fairly and competitively. Finally, a salary structure can help create equity within the company by making sure that salaries are comparable between different departments and job positions.

How to develop salary structuring?

Below are the steps you should follow when developing a salary structure:

Conduct job analysis and job evaluation

When developing a salary structure, it’s important to first conduct a job analysis and job evaluation. This will help you understand the duties, responsibilities, and skills required for each position. Additionally, this will help you determine the going rate for similar positions in the market.

Benchmark your salaries

When developing a salary structure, it’s important to benchmark your salaries against the market. This will help you ensure that you are paying your employees competitively. There are a few different ways to benchmark salaries:

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Salary Benchmarking Guide

– Use salary surveys: There are many different salary surveys available online. You can use these to compare your salaries to the market.

– Use salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers detailed information on salaries for many different occupations.

– Use salary data from job postings: You can also compare your salaries to those listed in job postings. This will give you an idea of what employers are willing to pay for similar positions.

Once you have benchmarked your salaries, you can make sure that your salary structure is competitive with the market.

Create salary grades

A salary grade is a way to categorize positions by level or seniority. Employers use salary grades to help them make decisions about employee compensation. Salary grades are typically made up of a series of levels, with each level representing a different salary range.

When setting up a salary grade system, employers should consider the following:

– The responsibilities of each position

– The skills required for each position

– The experience required for each position

– The training and development opportunities offered for each position

Once an employer has considered these factors, they can develop a salary grade system that is fair and equitable for all employees.

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Determine the form of your employee compensation structure

There are two main types of employee compensation structures: flat rate and progressive.

A flat rate salary structure means that all employees in a certain position are paid the same salary, regardless of their experience or skill level.

A progressive salary structure means that employees are paid based on their experience or skill level. This type of structure typically results in higher salaries for more experienced or skilled employees.

Once you have determined the form of your employee compensation structure, you can start to develop specific salary ranges for each position.

Develop salary ranges for each position

A salary range is a set of wages that employers offer to employees for a particular job position. The range specifies the lowest and highest amount of money that an employee could earn for that position. Typically, the lower amount of the range is the wage an employee would receive if they were new to the position, and the upper amount of the range is the wage an employee would receive if they had a lot of experience in the position.

When developing salary ranges, it’s important to consider the following:

  • The market rate for similar positions
  • The responsibilities of each position
  • The skills required for each position
  • The experience required for each position
  • The training and development opportunities offered for each position

Types of salary structures

There are a few different types of salary structures that employers can use:

Traditional

– The most common type of salary structure is the traditional salary structure. This type of structure typically uses a series of steps or levels to determine salaries.

Market-based

– Another common type of salary structure is the market-based salary structure. This type of structure takes into account the going rate for similar positions in the market.

Broadband

A broadband salary structure is a type of salary structure that pays employees based on their experience or skill level. This type of structure typically results in higher salaries for more experienced or skilled employees.

Look at external inequalities

When developing a salary structure, it’s important to look at external inequalities. This includes looking at the salaries of similar positions in the market. You can use this information to help you develop salary ranges that are fair and equitable for all employees.Consider internal equityIt’s also important to consider internal equity when developing a salary structure.

Look at internal inequalities

When developing a salary structure, it’s important to look at internal inequalities of current employees. This includes looking at the salaries of similar positions within your organization. You can use this information to help you develop salary ranges that are fair and equitable for all employees.

Define compensable leverage for your company

Compensable leverage is the amount of money that an employee can make in addition to their base salary. This includes things like commissions, bonuses, and profit-sharing.

You should consider compensable leverage when developing a salary structure because it can help you attract and retain employees.

Consider your company’s competitive posture

When developing a salary structure, you should also consider your company’s competitive posture. This includes things like the size of your company, the industry you’re in, and the location of your business.

Wrapping it all up

Developing a salary structure can be a complex process. However, it’s important to make sure that your employees are compensated fairly and equitably. By taking into account the market rate, the responsibilities of each position, and the skills required for each position, you can develop a salary structure that meets the needs of your business and your employees.

When developing a salary structure, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. The market rate for similar positions
  2. The responsibilities of each position
  3. The skills required for each position
  4. The experience required for each position
  5. The training and development opportunities offered for each position
  6. The going rate for similar positions in the market
  7. The size of your company
  8. The industry you’re in
  9. The location of your business

By taking these factors into account, you can develop a salary structure that meets the needs of your business and your employees.

A salary structure is an important document that outlines the different pay grades and ranges for employees within a company. By having a defined salary structure, both the employer and employee are aware of what is expected in terms of earnings and can plan for future growth.

To develop a salary structure, it is important to first research what similar companies are paying their employees for similar positions. With this information, you can then establish a range of salaries that are both competitive and fair.

Once the salary range has been determined, the next step is to allocate specific pay grades to each position. This will ensure that there is a clear progression path for employees as they move up within the company. Finally, it is important to review and revise the salary structure regularly to ensure that it remains relevant and up-to-date.