JD Classification and Pay Transparency Kit
Define the role once and use that information for hiring, pay, and postings. Build the job description around essential functions and review exempt or non-exempt classification against the three tests.
These previews show pages from the files you receive.
Pay structure and merit kit
Compensation Toolkit
Build a documented pay structure and plan merit increases against your budget using the two tools large companies rely on. Set one market anchor in the Salary Band Builder to generate salary grades and see where employees fall within their ranges.
Use the free Pay Transparency Readiness Scorecard to review your ranges, job architecture, postings, and internal equity against the jurisdictions you select. It includes seventeen questions.
$89
- One-time purchase. Editable files.
- Your download link appears on the confirmation screen and in your receipt. No account needed.
- Request a full refund within 30 days with one email.
- Licensed for one company's internal HR use. Resale and redistribution are not permitted. Read the license.
Checkout takes place on our store at shop.truestephr.com. Any applicable sales tax appears at checkout before you pay. These files provide general HR information, not legal advice.
Need approval first?
Ready to put your tool to work?
Add a one hour Setup Session, $149
Bring your purchased tool and the situation you are working through. A TrueStep HR practitioner will help you set the inputs, make the first decisions, and identify a practical next step.
See the Setup Session →Where to start
Explore the sample structure in the Salary Band Builder
See how one market midpoint generates a full set of salary grades.
DecisionSet pay and raises
IndustryCross-industry
Files6 PDF guides, 2 Excel workbooks
ReviewRead our published standard for how we develop our tools, and what we cover for their scope and limits.
Research and standardsRelated reference note: Compa-ratio and range penetration
Fit
Is this the right fit for your work?
A good fit
- You need to set pay and raises.
- You want Excel workbooks and written guides that stay with your organization.
- You or a manager will run the process and want a clear sequence to follow.
When to consider another option
- For advice about one person's specific circumstances, consult qualified counsel.
- For rules specific to one state or city, consult the applicable local requirements. This tool is not written for any one state.
- For help running the process, explore our advisory services.
What is inside
Every file in the download, by name.
Taken from the kit’s own Start Here guide, so what you see here is what you open after checkout.
PDF · readStart Here: a guide to every file and the order to use them.
PDF · readQuick Reference: the whole workbook on one page, including what each tab does, what to enter, and how to read the result.
Excel · useSalary Band Builder: set one market anchor to calculate salary grades with a minimum, midpoint, and maximum. Add employees to see who falls below, within, or above their range.
Excel · useMerit Increase Matrix: set increases by performance and range position, enter employee information, and review each recommended raise and the budget total against your target. Both tools open pre-filled with a worked example and use the standard compensation formulas large companies use. Replace the highlighted cells with your own numbers.
PDF · readTrueStep HR Product License: what you may and may not do with your purchased files.
PDF · readUsing This Workbook in Google Sheets: how to upload the file and what to check afterward.
PDF · readMerit Increase Matrix Guide
PDF · readSalary Band Builder Guide
How to use it
Your first 15 minutes
Start with the Salary Band Builder and work through the steps to establish your pay ranges and review employee placement. In step 4, you move to the Merit Increase Matrix.
Review the completed example in the Salary Band Builder to see how the sample structure is calculated.
On the Band Builder tab, enter your Grade 1 midpoint from a market source. Choose a midpoint progression and a range spread, and the grades and ranges calculate automatically.
Add employees on the Employee Placement tab to review each compa-ratio, range penetration, and status. The Summary tab brings the results together, while the Benchmark tab shows settings other employers use.
In the Merit Increase Matrix, set your increase percentages and cut points, then enter employee information. Review each recommended raise and the blended increase. The Budget Scenario tab checks the plan against your available merit budget.
Before you buy
Questions about your purchase
Find details about file formats, delivery, licensing, and refunds.
What exactly do I receive?
You receive 6 PDF guides and 2 Excel workbooks, all listed in the What is inside section above. This is a one-time purchase delivered as a download, not a subscription.
Are these the real screenshots?
Yes. The first image shows the file set, and the second and third show actual pages from the current download.
Can I use the files in my business?
Yes. You can fill in the Excel workbooks and read or print the PDF guides for your own internal operations.
What if I need help applying it?
For help implementing this tool, book a one hour Setup Session for $149. For broader HR support, advisory begins with a short request and a written scope at truestephr.com/pages/advisory. For legal questions, consult qualified counsel.
How do I get the files?
Right after payment, your download link appears on the confirmation screen and again in your email receipt. All files arrive as one ZIP. No account is needed.
What do I need to open them?
You can use Excel, LibreOffice on a computer, or Google Sheets in a browser. LibreOffice and Google Sheets are free alternatives. Any PDF reader opens the guides. See download help.
What if it is not right for us?
Email support@truestephr.com within 30 days for a full refund. No form or explanation is required. The full terms are in the refund policy.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is general HR information and a working method. It is not written to any one state unless the page says so. Where a decision turns on the law, use qualified counsel. See what we cover, and what we do not.
Who may use the files?
One license covers the internal HR work of one legal entity. You may edit the files, brand them, and issue them to your employees. Consultants and groups with several entities need the extended license. See the license.
Extend the system
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