Compensation study expert provides insight on proposed salary increases

JACKSON, Tenn. — A compensation study was done for the City of Jackson employees in the summer for 2022.

This study has been the reasoning behind the salary increases proposed in this budget.

Burris, Thompson & Associates conducted the salary study back in 2022. It determined that city employees were at approximately 93% of their average job market rate. This study came up with a plan to give everyone a 3% raise, and then an additional raise to get them closer to the average market rate.

“What’s the results of all of this? The median salary market index, again after all the adjustments we take the employees pay rate and divide it by the market average, we are now at 97% instead of 93. So we’ve made significant progress. And I would argue that we’re in pretty good shape,” said Steve Thompson, with Burris, Thompson & Associates.

As a reminder, the average market rate is based on those with five to seven years of experience. Therefore, those with less experience, will be at a lower percentage. Thompson explains more.

“Some of those that are a little bit below are probably the new folks that have been in the job for a couple years and it is appropriate that their pay rate is 85, 90% percent of the market somewhere like that and that is fine cause they’ve only been in the job for a few days, a few months, maybe a couple of years at most,” said Thompson.

After being presented the findings, the council then voted to approve the 3% increase, and then smaller step increases over some years.

The current city council will meet on Friday, July 12, to discuss the proposed budget.

We reached out to Jackson Mayor Scott Conger to ask if the proposed budget represents the small step increases. We have not heard back from him at this time.

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