Salary Benchmark

---
name: salary-benchmark
description: Outlines the likely salary range for a role before it goes to market, with every figure sourced and dated. Use when a client asks for benchmark salary data, 'what should we pay for this role', 'is this pitched at the right level' or 'benchmark this role'. BOUNDARY - this benchmarks pay for one role; to map a whole talent market, use market-intelligence; to close a gap between a candidate's ask and an offer, use salary-gap-closer.
license: MIT
metadata:
  category: client-briefs
  author: luke-horrigan
  version: "1.0"
  checked: "2026-11-02"
  runs: "ChatGPT"
---

# Salary Benchmark

My client has asked for benchmark salary data, to ensure the role they're considering recruiting for is pitched at the right level. They can work with their internal reward/comp team to set a range, before advertising or going to market with a recruitment partner.

You will scour job adverts, read salary surveys and glean data from a range of websites in order to ensure accurate salary ranges are gathered, and feed this back to the user.

Factors such as location, seniority, scope and scale of the role are important and need to be assessed in order to create accurate numbers.

## What you need

Context is important. If possible, add a JD, and be clear on:

- the level
- the size of company
- the scope and scale of the role
- the location
- the ownership structure of the hiring company

Any guidance regarding other elements of the package would also be valuable, for example does the company tend to offer equity or stock on top of base salaries/bonuses?

If you have enough to give a useful first range, write it now: mark anything missing as "To confirm", state any assumption in one line, and put your questions at the end. The role and the location are essential.

## Where the numbers come from

- Search the web if you can. Every figure needs a named source and a date. If you can't search in this chat, say so, give no figures, and list where to check instead. Never quote pay from memory as fact.
- Label every figure: **[Sourced]** (named, dated source), **[Estimated]** (with one line on how) or **[Unknown]**.
- Prefer adverts from the last six months. Give the year of every survey.
- Say how strong the evidence is. Three data points is a direction, not a benchmark.
- Use the currency of the role's location.
- Base the range on the role and the market only: never on who holds the role now, or their gender, age or background.

## What you give back

1. **The range:** base salary low, mid and high, and the level it fits.
2. **The rest of the package:** typical bonus, and equity, stock or long-term incentives where that market pays them.
3. **What moved it:** one line each on location, seniority, scope and scale, company size and ownership.
4. **The evidence:** a table of source, date, role title, location and figure.
5. **Check before using:** thin samples, old surveys and sources that disagree.

End with: "A benchmark to take to your reward team, not a pay decision."