Compensation Glossary
Welcome to ERI SalaryExpert's compensation glossary, your resource for commonly used terms, formulas, and phrases related to compensation.
Section 401(K) Plan
In the United States, a deferred profit sharing or stock-bonus plan permitting participants to decide the extent to which their compensation is deferred. Contributions of participants are not taxable until that time when the funds are withdrawn. Contributions of sponsor and investment earnings are also tax-deferred. Also known as Cash or Deferred Arrangement (CODA).
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Salary Grade
Cost of Living
Demotion
Pay Equity
Lag the Market
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Standard Deviation
Range Penetration
Compensable Factors
Step Rates
Range
Benchmark Job
Broadbanding
Job Evaluation
Total Rewards
Minimum Wage
Median
Long-Term Incentive Plan
Quartile
Green Circle Rate
Red Circle Rate
Coefficient of Determination
Linear Regression
Midpoint Progression
Black-Scholes Model Z
Salary Range
Geographic Differential
Cost of Labor
Salary Structure Change
General Salary Increase
Year of Service
Lead Pay Structure Policy
Benchmarking
Bonus
Market Index
Merit Increase
Job Family
Shift Differentials
Hours of Work
Gender Pay Gap
Sales Compensation
Pay Grade
Market Pricing
Defined Contribution Plans
Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
Pay Range Overlap
Aging Survey Data
Mode
Restricted Stock
Defined Benefit Plans
Percentile
Lead-Lag Pay Structure Policy
Works Council
Mix
Market Based Salary Increase Budget
Turnover
Range Spread
Promotional Increase
Stock Option Incentive
FICA
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
Lump Sum Merit
Mean
Annual Incentive
Internal Equity
Compa-Ratio
Standard Error of Estimate
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ERI SalaryExpert was launched in 2000 by ERI Economic Research Institute to help organizations and individuals optimize salary planning. Our robust compensation management solution houses the global salary survey data and applications needed to design competitive and effective compensation structures. From benchmarking with reliable market data to analyzing geographic differentials and conducting pay equity analyses, our intelligent platform is an innovative way of merging integral salary survey data with efficient features, all in one system.
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Featured White Paper
Common Compensation Terms and Formulas - January 2026
Find commonly used compensation terms and formulas for your reference when planning compensation.
Ready to Streamline Your Compensation Strategy with Us?
Discover how our Assessor Platform can help you attract top talent, stay on top of market trends, and set your organization up for success, all in one platform.
Try a Free Demo
About Us
ERI SalaryExpert was launched in 2000 by ERI Economic Research Institute to help organizations and individuals optimize salary planning. Our robust compensation management solution houses the global salary survey data and applications needed to design competitive and effective compensation structures. From benchmarking with reliable market data to analyzing geographic differentials and conducting pay equity analyses, our intelligent platform is an innovative way of merging integral salary survey data with efficient features, all in one system.
Learn More