Compression has two layers. The structure itself can put a new supervisor below the top of the range they supervise; then individual placement can put long-service employees near new hires. The first layer is visible in the published charts, so we measured it below for 32 pairs of titles on the same career path, where the higher title supervises, leads or is the next step up. The second needs the County's employee file and is shown on invented data.
| Family | Lower title (chart, grade) | Higher title (chart, grade) | Lower step 1 | Higher step 1 | Entry gap | Top over entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corrections | Corrections Officer (DOC 1) | Field Training Officer (DOC 2) | $27.46 | $28.57 | +4.0% | +27.0% |
| Corrections | Field Training Officer (DOC 2) | Corporal (DOC 3) | $28.57 | $29.72 | +4.0% | +27.2% |
| Corrections | Corporal (DOC 3) | Sergeant/DOC (DOC 4) | $29.72 | $30.93 | +4.1% | +27.5% |
| Corrections | Sergeant/DOC (DOC 4) | DOC Security Lieutenant (DOC 5) | $30.93 | $33.55 | +8.5% | +22.6% |
| Corrections | DOC Security Lieutenant (DOC 5) | Captain DOC (DOC 6) | $33.55 | $39.62 | +18.1% | +13.1% |
| Corrections | Captain DOC (DOC 6) | Corrections Superintendent (NON 28) | $39.62 | $52.69 | +33.0% | +1.1% |
| Nursing | LNA I (NUR 1) | LNA II (NUR 2) | $24.63 | $25.54 | +3.7% | +24.9% |
| Nursing | LNA II (NUR 2) | MNA (NUR 3) | $25.54 | $27.50 | +7.7% | +20.5% |
| Nursing | MNA (NUR 3) | LPN - Nursing Home (NUR 4) | $27.50 | $32.01 | +16.4% | +12.2% |
| Nursing | LPN - Nursing Home (NUR 4) | RN - Nursing Home (NUR 6) | $32.01 | $39.07 | +22.1% | +8.1% |
| Nursing | RN - Nursing Home (NUR 6) | RN House Supervisor (NUR 7) | $39.07 | $40.70 | +4.2% | +28.0% |
| Nursing | RN House Supervisor (NUR 7) | Director of Nursing (NUR 9) | $40.70 | $50.13 | +23.2% | +8.5% |
| Nursing | Director of Nursing (NUR 9) | Nursing Home Administrator (NON 29) | $50.13 | $55.20 | +10.1% | +22.5% |
| Dietary | Dietary Aide (NON 4) | Cook (Nursing Home and DOC) (NON 8) | $17.83 | $21.21 | +19.0% | +13.6% |
| Dietary | Cook (Nursing Home and DOC) (NON 8) | Assistant Dietary Supervisor (NON 9) | $21.21 | $22.17 | +4.5% | +30.0% |
| Dietary | Assistant Dietary Supervisor (NON 9) | Director of Dietary Services (Nursing Home) (NON 15) | $22.17 | $28.97 | +30.7% | +4.1% |
| Environmental services | Housekeeper (NON 4) | Custodian Supervisor (NON 8) | $17.83 | $21.21 | +19.0% | +13.6% |
| Environmental services | Custodian Supervisor (NON 8) | Environmental Services Asst. Director (NON 9) | $21.21 | $22.17 | +4.5% | +30.0% |
| Environmental services | Environmental Services Asst. Director (NON 9) | Environmental Services Director (NON 14) | $22.17 | $27.68 | +24.9% | +9.0% |
| Activities | Certified Activity Aide (NON 6) | Activities Asst. Director (NON 9) | $19.43 | $22.17 | +14.1% | +18.8% |
| Activities | Activities Asst. Director (NON 9) | Activities Director (NON 15) | $22.17 | $28.97 | +30.7% | +4.1% |
| Registry of Deeds | Deeds Records Clerk (NON 7) | Assistant Deputy Register (NON 10) | $20.31 | $23.16 | +14.0% | +19.0% |
| Registry of Deeds | Assistant Deputy Register (NON 10) | Deputy Register (NON 14) | $23.16 | $27.68 | +19.5% | +14.0% |
| Registry of Deeds | Deputy Register (NON 14) | Executive Assistant to Register/Sr. Deputy Register (NON 17) | $27.68 | $31.71 | +14.6% | +19.5% |
| Communications (dispatch) | Part-Time Dispatcher (NON 10) | Deputy Director of Communications (NON 17) | $23.16 | $31.71 | +36.9% | -0.5% |
| Communications (dispatch) | Deputy Director of Communications (NON 17) | Director of Communications (NON 20) | $31.71 | $36.37 | +14.7% | +19.7% |
| Maintenance | Maintenance Assistant (NON 7) | Maintenance Skilled Assistant (NON 10) | $20.31 | $23.16 | +14.0% | +19.0% |
| Maintenance | Maintenance Skilled Assistant (NON 10) | Licensed Maintenance Asst. (Master Electrician) (NON 14) | $23.16 | $27.68 | +19.5% | +14.0% |
| Maintenance | Licensed Maintenance Asst. (Master Electrician) (NON 14) | Assistant Maintenance Superintendent (NON 15) | $27.68 | $28.97 | +4.7% | +30.8% |
| Maintenance | Assistant Maintenance Superintendent (NON 15) | Maintenance Superintendent (NON 23) | $28.97 | $41.76 | +44.1% | -5.0% |
| Human resources | Human Resources Generalist (NON 12) | Sr. Human Resources Generalist (NON 17) | $25.32 | $31.71 | +25.2% | +9.0% |
| Human resources | Sr. Human Resources Generalist (NON 17) | Human Resources Director (NON 25) | $31.71 | $45.81 | +44.5% | -5.0% |
For each employee we compare position in range with what time in the job would predict. People well behind the line are compressed; people well ahead may be paid above peers for reasons worth checking. We also test new hires against longer-tenured staff in the same title, and every supervisor against the people they lead.
Every flagged case gets a recommended adjustment under a written rule, and the adjustments roll up by department and fund: all at once, phased over two budget years, or worst cases first. The Board sees the total before it chooses, and HR keeps the rule for future hires and promotions.
A complete classification and compensation study on a fictional city, open read-only. No account, any device, about a minute to get in.