askHRPay structures and salary grades
Learn about classification, market data and salary grades, the three key factors that contribute to establishing pay structures at Northwestern. Read about pay structures and salary grades.
Salary Administration and Planning
Here at Northwestern University, we recognize that your compensation is an important aspect of your relationship with the University. It is one of the reasons why you come to work every day – and one way you are rewarded for your work effort and contribution.
About the Compensation team
Who we are
HR's Compensation staff oversees Northwestern’s compensation policies and principles to ensure equitable and competitive pay practices across the university. Our compensation program is designed to attract, retain, and motivate engaged employees by implementing compensation practices that:
- Support the mission of the University
- Are competitive with outside market pay levels for similar jobs and aligned with University needs
- Provide equitable and fair compensation for similar work and qualifications
- Reinforce a pay-for-performance philosophy
- Incent and recognize high performance
- Provide pay that is competitive within relevant labor markets
- Are nondiscriminatory
Services offered
Provide school/unit supervisors and managers with advice and recommendations on staff compensation matters.
Perform job evaluations to ensure pay practices align to external market standards and pay practices encourage internal equity.
Research and complete analyses on relevant benchmarks to assist schools/units with salary planning, new hire, reclassification and/or promotional pay decisions.
Ensure staff roles are classified appropriately in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and other state regulations.
Determining pay
Job families at Northwestern
Compensation has partnered with schools and units to create job families, which has helped standardized staff jobs and salary grade assignments. See current job families.
Recognition programs
In addition to financial compensation, Northwestern University also shows appreciation for staff through recognition programs. The three programs are Length of Service Recognition, Employee of the Year and the Service Excellence award.