Mercer Pay Database Finds "Broad Pay Shifts"

For example, the database indicates that 2007 total cash compensation for a “top corporate legal executive” was $406,400, an 11.3% change from 2006.    On the other hand, a “recruiter – general” position saw a 2.9% increase in pay year over year, and an “investment analyst” position actually dropped 8.1% in total cash compensation, from $66,000 in 2006 to $60,600 this year.  

Median total cash compensation includes base salary and annual bonus.

The database, a source of pay data for more than 900 functional positions, helps organizations identify shifts in pay by assessing and comparing compensation information for their employees against accepted benchmarks, according to a press release.

In addition to base pay, incentive pay and total direct compensation, the US Mercer Benchmark Database allows for analysis by industry, assets, revenue/sales, operating expenses/budgets, gross premiums, net revenue, total employment, geographic region and metropolitan area.

The US Mercer Benchmark Database offers year-over-year comparisons by position. In addition to statistical displays, the year-over-year reports include commentary on challenges to measuring pay trends, perspectives on how different survey approaches add insight and other valuable intelligence.

The U.S. Mercer Benchmark Database consists of 12 modules with positions in 15 functional areas, including: administration, communication, corporate affairs, customer service, engineering, knowledge management, finance, human resources, information technology, marketing, quality, research and development, sales, supply and logistics, and top management. For each position, the database provides statistical summaries for base salary, short-term incentives, total cash compensation (base pay plus short-term incentives), pay ranges, and short- and long-term incentive eligibility and valuation.

Participants may purchase individual modules of the Mercer Benchmark Database at the participant rate of $6,250.   Nonparticipants may purchase individual modules of the Mercer Benchmark Database at the nonparticipant rate.   The entire Mercer Benchmark Database may be purchased by nonparticipants for $18,750 — a savings of over $5,000.

More information is available  HERE .

*Median total cash compensation includes base salary and annual bonus.