Market Pricing

A case-study template for role matching, survey review, and pay recommendation logic.
Author

Renee Reich

Published

May 2, 2026

Situation

A leader needs a compensation recommendation for a role that may not map cleanly to a single survey match. The work is to find the right market anchor, pressure-test internal comparisons, and document the recommendation clearly enough for review.

Questions to answer

  • What is the closest defensible survey match?
  • Which internal peers help explain positioning?
  • What factors justify movement, restraint, or further review?

Inputs

  • job description and scope notes
  • current pay and range information
  • relevant survey cuts and aging assumptions
  • internal comparison roles

Working approach

  1. Start with the role itself rather than the title.
  2. Match on scope, level, and business context.
  3. Compare market position with internal relationships.
  4. Write the recommendation in plain language, with assumptions stated.

Useful artifacts

  • survey matching notes
  • pricing worksheet
  • recommendation memo
  • manager-ready summary

Why it matters

Good market pricing work makes the survey match, the data limits, and the difference between a market reference point and a final pay decision easy to explain.