Merit Increase Matrix
Plan merit increases around performance and salary range position. Set your matrix and enter employee details. The workbook calculates each proposed raise, the total cost, and how the plan compares with your budget.
These previews show pages from the files you receive.
HR calculator
Salary Band Builder
Build a working salary structure from your market pay data. Set a starting midpoint, grade progression, and range spread. The workbook calculates every grade's minimum, midpoint, and maximum, then shows where each employee's pay falls within their range.
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.
$39
- One-time purchase. Editable Excel workbook.
- 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
Set one market anchor as your first midpoint.
The workbook calculates each grade's minimum, midpoint, and maximum, then shows where employees fall within those ranges.
DecisionSet pay and raises
IndustryCross-industry
Files4 PDF guides, 1 Excel workbook
ReviewRead our published standard for how we develop our tools, and what we cover for their scope and limits.
Research and standardsRead the reference note behind this tool: 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 an Excel workbook you can run again as your figures change.
- You will enter your own figures and want each tab explained.
When to consider another option
- For legal or tax advice about your result, consult a qualified adviser.
- For help running the analysis, 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 · printQuick Reference: the whole workbook on one page, including what each tab does, what to enter, and how to read the result.
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.
Excel · useSalary Band Builder: 6 tabs: Start Here, Band Builder, Employee Placement, Benchmark, Summary, and Notes.
How to use it
What this workbook does
Build a full salary structure from your market pay data. Start with the Grade 1 midpoint, then set the midpoint progression and range spread. Using standard compensation formulas, the workbook calculates the minimum, midpoint, and maximum for every grade. You can then compare employee pay with those ranges and see at a glance who falls below, within, or above their assigned range.
Your first 15 minutesOpen the Salary Band Builder workbook in Microsoft Excel or a free alternative such as LibreOffice. The Start Here tab walks you through the workbook. On the Band Builder tab, enter three figures in the amber cells: the Grade 1 midpoint from your market data, the midpoint progression between grades, and the range spread from minimum to maximum. The workbook then calculates the grade table.
Before you buy
Questions about your purchase
Find details about file formats, delivery, licensing, and refunds.
What exactly do I receive?
You receive 4 PDF guides and 1 Excel workbook, all named 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 workbook for your own internal operations and read or print the PDF guides.
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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Pay Structure and Internal Equity Review
Compare pay between two groups in three steps. Enter the pay data in Excel to see the differences. The accompanying PDF guide explains the method so you can document how the comparison was made.