Who are the main providers of salary survey information?

Salary surveys are generally conducted by one of the following sources:

• Compensation consulting firms. Several large consulting firms conduct salary surveys on a regular basis. Consultants invite various employers to participate in their surveys, develop data collection instruments, collect and analyze the data, compile the results into a report, and sell the report to interested parties for a fee.

• Government sources. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducts large surveys based on geographic region and type of industry. Local chambers of commerce are also collectors and providers of area-specific wage data.

• Industry, trade and professional associations. As a service to their members, specialized associations often conduct salary surveys for various jobs within their industries and/or professions.

• Custom surveys. Individual employers or groups of employers may conduct their own salary surveys if their specialized needs cannot be met with regular published surveys. Often, individual employers will commission consultants to design and conduct specialized surveys on their behalf. For a checklist of the major steps for designing, planning and executing an internal salary survey, see Conduct your own salary survey at ¶31,650 .