Custom Regional Wage & Salary Survey

Client Overview

This Michigan-based service organization employs approximately 250 staff members. As they began recruiting for a new HR Director, leadership recognized the need for accurate, reliable compensation data to remain competitive in their market. We partnered with both the HR team and leadership to support this critical hire with data-backed insights.

The Challenge

Off-the-shelf compensation surveys weren’t meeting their needs. Prior tools offered only generic insights, lacking the specificity necessary to align with their company size, industry, and regional footprint. Leadership wanted to ensure that the data being referenced was reliable and that the comparisons in job and compensation could be confidently made—along with considerations such as company revenue, union status, and workforce size.

Without reliable benchmarking, they risked either underpaying and losing talent or overspending unnecessarily.

Our Solution

As a new member, the organization received the latest Regional Wage & Salary Survey at no cost. This survey is different from others available because it requires participants to match from job description for accuracy. The member used the survey results to:

• Isolate HR roles relevant to their open position
• Go beyond job titles by carefully comparing job descriptions and essential functions
• Confidently match compensation data to the specific role they were hiring for
• Validate that the selected salary range aligned with similarly structured organizations in terms of industry, size, and geography

This approach helped eliminate guesswork and allowed the organization to proceed with clarity and competitiveness.

Highlights

Unlike generic survey tools, this process was tailored to the organization’s:

• Workforce size, location, and structure
• Service industry context
• Union and non-union considerations
• Revenue profile and organizational complexity

The survey provided segmented data that offered more meaningful guidance than broad national averages or title-based comparisons.

The Results

Armed with actionable insights:

• The organization confidently established a competitive salary range for their new HR Director
• They were able to attract strong candidates by aligning compensation with market expectations
• Leadership had greater peace of mind knowing they were making a smart, sustainable investment in talent

Why It Matters

When it comes to hiring and retention, data matters. Having access to regionally relevant, role-specific, and demographically aligned compensation data allows companies to:

• Compete for top talent
• Build equitable pay structures
• Make HR decisions with confidence

This organization now knows they’re offering a salary that reflects both the role’s value and the realities of the market—positioning them for long-term hiring success.

Ready to Make Smarter HR Decisions?

Our custom and regional surveys aren’t just data—they’re decision-making tools. Whether you're hiring, benchmarking pay, or shaping your workforce strategy, we can help you use the right data to move forward with confidence.

Let’s connect about how one of our surveys can support your goals. Contact Drew at 419.893.3000 or drew.peterson@WorkSpring.org.