Job Titles and Salary Structure Clean-Up
When Job Titles Don’t Match Reality and Pay Doesn’t Make Sense Anymore
As companies grow, job titles and salary structures tend to get messy.
Roles are created on the fly. Titles are inflated to secure candidates. Pay decisions are made in isolation. Before long, you’ve got four people doing the same job under different titles and being paid wildly different amounts.
It’s not just confusing. It’s risky.
What Goes Wrong as Companies Grow
In early stages, companies prioritize flexibility. That’s smart. But over time, the following problems often emerge:
1. Title inflation
2. Pay inconsistency
3. Lack of career progression
4. Confusion in hiring
5. Overlapping responsibilities
What Job Architecture Involves
1. Defined Job Families
2. Job Levels Within Each Family
3. Clear Role Descriptions
4. Salary Bands by Level
How to Start Cleaning Up
1. Audit Your Current State
2. Group Similar Roles
3. Define Career Levels
4. Benchmark Key Jobs
5. Update Job Titles and Descriptions
6. Communicate the Changes
Final Thought
A messy title and pay structure are manageable until they’re not. Fixing it doesn’t have to be complicated. It just takes structure, clarity, and a plan.
If this resonates with you, let’s connect to discuss how I can help your organization.
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