What is PayScale, Inc.?
PayScale, Inc. is a market leader in online compensation information, providing access to real-time pay data that matches the companies, positions and job profiles of employees and employers across the globe. A proprietary data-collection and reporting system gathers and correlates statistical records on an unparalleled scale.

What products does PayScale offer?
Consumers who complete a personal profile receive a free PayScale Summary Report with the option to purchase a more detailed PayScale Premium Report ($19.95) which allows consumers to evaluate multiple job offers and search different variables.

The company recently launched PayScale MarketRate, an online compensation data service that provides employers with highly targeted compensation and benefits information allowing users to clearly define specific company and job attributes to establish market rate guidelines for their company. The product was developed specifically for HR professionals and hiring managers, to provide a precise, easy-to-use tool for managing multiple compensation searches. PayScale MarketRate does not require the user to submit data in order to receive information. PayScale MarketRate reports are offered at multiple price points starting from $99.00 for one report. PayScale MarketRate has pricing options to provide every business with the amount and frequency of information to suit their individual needs.

How does PayScale collect its information?
PayScale hosts the largest ongoing compensation survey in the world. In exchange for a report detailing how his/her compensation compares to others in the market, individuals are asked to submit detailed, anonymous information about their jobs and workplaces. There are no offers, payments or other incentives made to individuals to encourage them to fill out a personal profile. Other sources of data include various employer and professional association compensation surveys, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, and partnerships with other compensation data providers.

What is PayScale's privacy policy?
PayScale takes privacy very seriously and is sensitive to the nature of information being collected on the site. PayScale utilizes secure encryption technology and structural privacy techniques to protect information on its system. No information submitted is traceable to any particular user. It is used only for reporting anonymously and in aggregate form.

Does PayScale have a unique methodology for analyzing data?
PayScale's methodology is based on the best practices standards set by the industry. The algorithm which is used to analyze the data is unique to PayScale. Once submitted to PayScale, every profile undergoes up to 20 tests to check for validity, including:

Checks for consistency with salary ranges reported from reputable sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Checks to identify and eliminate duplicate entries by the same individual, and
Checks for 'internal consistency' within an individual profile (i.e. if a 23-year-old individual reports having 18 years experience in a given field, his/her data is considered suspect and not utilized.)

How does PayScale ensure that the data used is accurate?
All data submitted to PayScale undergoes various validity tests to determine if the information is accurate and eligible to be used as employee profiles. Due to the comprehensive analysis and screening of the data, approximately 50% of the data profiles submitted to the system are not used in PayScale reports. Thousands of new profiles are added to the database every day, so from a statistical perspective it is unlikely that a single profile will have a meaningful effect on the aggregated data reported.

Does PayScale only collect data for public companies?
No. PayScale is the most comprehensive online source for compensation information. The data is comprised of public and private company salary information, as well as government and not-for-profit data.

How do users know they are receiving current information/data?
The online environment for data collection provides PayScale an opportunity to produce real-time, current, compensation information by collecting thousands of profiles each day, reflecting changes in the marketplace as they happen. All PayScale reports disclose the average age of data points reported.

How can consumers leverage PayScale data in their current jobs?
PayScale provides users with the tools to obtain an accurate, real-time analysis of the market place so that they are better able to determine their individual market value. PayScale consumers have used their reports to negotiate the salary of an existing job or a job offer, evaluate other industries, or research the value of a degree or certification.

Does PayScale have a conflict of interest by supplying data to employers and employees?
No. PayScale is a neutral party that acts as a reservoir and distributor of compensation data. PayScale provides employees and employers with an impartial source from which they can determine an accurate and real-time snapshot of the market place.

Currently, where do HR hiring managers go for their information?
HR professionals typically use expensive salary reports that are often at least 6 months old. PayScale MarketRate makes it quick and easy to get the real-time compensation and benefits data you need at a cost effective price.

Does PayScale have any partner relationships?
Yes. Some partnerships include CareerBuilder, Simply Hired, Data Verify, RecruitersWorld, WSA (formerly the Washington Software Alliance) and the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants.