Classification & Compensation Studies
Job Descriptions & Compensation Structures Outdated and Ineffective?
Outdated job descriptions, internal equity issues, uncompetitive wage structures, and ever-increasing starting wages can make compensation decisions difficult to make and even harder to defend.
EMS has spent thirty years helping educational organizations stop fighting fires by building clearer, more consistent, and better-informed classification and compensation structures.
Classification and Compensation Studies and Other Structured HR Studies
Education-specific classification and compensation studies, done right.
EMS can help your educational organization build compensation structures that are consistent, strategic, defensible, and easy to explain — to your board, your staff, and your community. Whether you need a full classification study, a staffing analysis, or a more targeted market review, EMS designs the work to give you what your organization actually needs.
Sound familiar?
Signs your classification & compensation structure needs attention.
Wage Compression between new hires and tenured employees
Pay Inequities between employees doing similar work
Difficulty Hiring and retaining qualified employees
Outdated Job Descriptions that don't reflect actual duties
Inconsistent Job Classifications across departments
Limited Market Data when hiring and retaining good employees
Employee Concerns about fairness and transparency
Lack of Confidence that compensation decisions are legally defensible
Which one do you need?
Study vs. market analysis — what's the difference?
Classification & Compensation Study
EMS leads the full process — planning, benchmark and market-source selection, data collection, analysis, findings, and recommendations — for organizations that need a structured, defensible review of their entire compensation system.
Discuss your organization's needs →Market Analysis
EMS helps you interpret compensation data you already have, or data you provide for specific positions — a faster, lighter-weight path when you need targeted answers, not a full structural review.
Request a market analysis →Why it's worth doing right
What you get from a structured study.
- Better-informed compensation decisions
- Strategic classification structures
- Defensible internal consistency
- Effective placement in your competitive market
- Accurate, legally compliant, useful job descriptions
- Data needed to make HR decisions with confidence
- A practical roadmap for implementation
Common questions
Classification & compensation study FAQs.
How long does a classification and compensation study take?
Most studies take roughly three to six months from planning through final recommendations, depending on the size of your organization, the number of positions in scope, and how quickly data can be collected. EMS will give you a specific timeline during the planning phase.
How are benchmark organizations selected?
EMS collaborates with you to select comparator organizations based on factors like geographic region, organization size, similar position structures, and labor market overlap — so the market data actually reflects who you compete with for talent.
How many market-source employers should be included?
Most studies use a representative sample of 10 to 12 comparator organizations, though the right number depends on your region, how many similar educational organizations are available for meaningful comparison, and your organization's specific needs.
What is the difference between internal equity and market competitiveness?
Internal equity means similar work is compensated consistently within your own organization. Market competitiveness means your pay is positioned appropriately compared to other employers you compete with for talent. A strong compensation structure accounts for both.
Does EMS help with implementation after the study?
Yes. Unlike many consultants, EMS stays "onboard" to collaborate with you to develop realistic implementations that are strategic and well communicated.
How can I maintain the new job descriptions and compensation structures after the study?
Unlike other consultants, EMS has developed an online platform (Employee Success NEXUS) so that you can maintain updated job descriptions and classification structure in one connected system, so the results of your study stay current instead of becoming outdated documents again. More than that, they connect all of your HR processes to your job descriptions to ensure you have a healthy HR ecosystem — connected at the root.
Can EMS provide ongoing support after the study ends?
Yes! Our company is structured to provide retainer-style ongoing support that allows our highly experienced staff to continue to provide guidance and assistance in maintaining the structures developed throughout the study, serving almost as if we were one of your own HR team members.
Related solutions
Explore other ways EMS can help.
Better HR decisions, connected at the root
Start a Classification and Compensation Conversation
Tell us about your organization and what's prompting the need for a study. We'll help you scope the right level of work.