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You would think that once you get a job, all you have to do is show up and wait for HR to hand you your paycheck (or deposit it directly into your account). In reality, most companies’ pay structures are complex and require you to understand them in order to take full advantage of them.
Whether you’re comparing job options or collecting information so you can negotiate a raise or better benefits, the information in our “Get Paid” guides can help you understand all the ins and outs of pay structures, time off, and benefits.
Check out these articles to find information on topics such as:
How to talk about salary expectations in an interview.
What is considered a “good” pay raise.
How overtime pay, mileage reimbursement, and other out-of-the-ordinary compensation policies usually work.
Tips for negotiating your salary or asking for a raise.
Overviews of the laws that affect your pay, time off, and benefits.
Featured Article
The 10 Best Lending Companies To Work For In New JerseyEven if you enjoy your actual job, the company you work for can make or break your overall satisfaction at work. Because of this, it’s important to find employers that will treat you well and provide plenty of career opportunities. To help you with this, we’ve put together a list of ten of the best […]
Our complete guide to negotiating your salary after someone finally makes you a big offer.
What is Base Salary? (With Examples)
When you as an employee are analyzing the comprehensive compensation package associated with a potential job opportunity, it’s crucial to gain a clear understanding of the base salary, often referred to as base pay. For individuals searching for the meaning of “base salary” or wondering, “What does base pay mean?”, here we’ll provide valuable insights […]
What Is Annual Income? (With Examples)
Your annual income is a key piece of information that will help you make your budget, apply for loans, and pay your taxes. Whether you need to calculate it for your business or your personal finances, it’s important to understand all that’s included in your annual income. In this article, we’ll explain what an annual […]
Everything You Need To Know About Paid Time Off (PTO) In 2023
Paid time off (PTO) refers to a period of time when an employee does not work but is still compensated for the time as if they had worked.
How To Answer “What Are Your Salary Expectations?” (With Examples)
To answer, "What are your salary expectations," research the going rate for the role and your area, and choose a salary range that fits that.
Unlimited Vacation Policy: What Is It And How Does It Work
Unlimited vacation policy, also called unlimited paid time off (PTO) allows for an employee to take as many sick, personal, or vacation days that they want, as long as their work is complete.
Unlimited Vacation Policy: What Is It And How Does It Work
Unlimited vacation policy, also called unlimited paid time off (PTO) allows for an employee to take as many sick, personal, or vacation days that they want, as long as their work is complete.
How To Write A Salary Increase Letter (Ask For A Raise Examples)
To write a salary increase letter, be specific about your reason for asking for a raise, what salary you're asking for, and your justification for your request.
How To Answer “What Are Your Salary Requirements?” (With Examples)
To answer a question about your salary requirements, research reasonable pay rates for the job title and location and give a range that puts your target salary on the low end.
What Is The Average Salary In The US?
Research Summary. The average salary in the U.S. continues increasing every year and currently sits at a mean of $61,900 per year. However, what an individual earns fluctuates depending on multiple factors, including age, gender, education level, occupation, and race. After extensive research, our data analysis team concluded: The weekly median wage in the U.S. […]
How To Ask For A Raise (With Examples)
To ask for a raise you should first request a private and in-person meeting with your boss and you should dress like it's a job interview.
How To Ask For A Salary Advance (With Examples)
To ask for a salary advance, schedule a meeting and prepare documentation to support the request.
What Is A Good Pay Raise In The US?
The typical pay raise in the U.S. is between 3%-5%.
What You Need To Know About Signing Bonuses
A signing bonus is a bonus payment that is sometimes included as part of a job offer to a potential employee.
How To Handle A Salary Counteroffer
When making a salary counteroffer, you should take your time and give them a clear timeline for when you will be in touch after considering their offer.
What Is The Average Work Hours Per Week In The US? [2023]
The average American adult works 38.7 hours per week. That works out to 7.74 hours per weekday and 2012.4 hours per year. They say if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. For everyone else, it’s estimated that you’ll work 90,000 hours throughout your lifetime. That works out to […]
How Many Work Hours Are In A Year? [2023]
Research Summary. Americans work longer hours than most people in the Western world, but there is a discrepancy between work hours in the year and the average amount that people actually work. How many work hours are in a year? For a typical employee who works a 40-hour workweek, 52 weeks a year, there are […]
What Is COBRA Health Insurance?
Summary: COBRA health insurance is a program that allows eligible employees and their family to maintain their health insurance coverage that would otherwise be lost due to termination or a reduction in hours. There’s plenty of worries that come along with separating from a job, some of which include maintaining finances, managing a professional exit, […]
Minimum Wage For Employees Who Earn Tips
Complying with minimum wage laws can be complicated if your employees regularly earn tips on the job. There are a variety of separate federal and state rules that depend on several different factors. In this article, we’ll discuss how minimum wage regulations for tipped employees differ based on several of these major factors, such as […]
What Is An Exempt Employee? (With Examples)
In the workplace, employees can be sorted into two basic categories — “exempt” and “non-exempt.” You’ve likely been prompted to specify which type you are on a job application, though you might not know what the distinction is. Exemption is determined based on eligibility requirements and correlates to different workplace benefits. The common factor of […]
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Whether you’re an employer or an employee, knowing the ins and outs of workers’ compensation is essential. Every state has different workers’ compensation laws, but there are some similarities between them. Workers’ compensation insurance helps protect both businesses and employees in the case of workplace accidents and injuries. It allows companies not to take on […]
Overtime Pay: What It Is And What You Need To Know
If you find yourself with a long work week, you might feel quite daunted. It takes extra time and energy to work those extra shifts and hours. Thankfully, if you live in the United States and meet certain qualifications, you are guaranteed by law to be compensated. This is called overtime pay, and it is […]
Everything You Need To Know About Flexible Spending Accounts (With Examples)
Understanding all the elements of your employer benefit plan can be tricky. Perhaps no benefit generates more confusion than a flexible spending account. In this article, we’ll discuss what a flexible spending account is, how it works, and how to decide if it’s something you should be taking advantage of. Key Takeaways: A flexible spending […]
Mileage Deduction: IRS Standard Mileage Rates
Big businesses typically have the luxury of hiring full-time drivers to distribute their products and handle all of the business’ transportation needs. The same can not typically be said of small businesses. More often than not, small business owners – especially those who are just getting started – have to rely entirely on their own […]
What Is The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)?
Many of us know that we are protected by certain labor laws and regulations, but we don’t know exactly what these protections offer. Whether you’re an employee or an employer, developing an understanding of the requirements and provisions laid out in the Fair Labor Standards Act can help you a lot in the long run. […]
What Is A Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA)?
Have you ever heard of the Cost of Living Adjustment, more commonly referred to as COLA? If you’ve ever gotten Social Security benefits or any benefits from the government, you might have run into COLA. COLA doesn’t usually have a huge impact on your benefits between years, but it could make a difference over time. […]
What Is A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)?
When you start a new job, your employer will likely give you some papers containing your explanation of benefits, and these can be daunting. It often seems like the insurance companies are using a language made up of acronyms, and somehow you have to understand it and choose the best option for you and your […]
What Is Hazard Pay? (With Examples)
If you work a particularly dangerous job, you may be eligible for hazard pay. Any paid work that causes extreme physical stress that cannot be fixed with an external device will be a physical hardship for the person performing the action. To that end, if you are performing a physically distressing job, you should be […]
How To Include Your Salary History
Somewhere throughout the job search process, you might be asked to provide your salary history. This could be a question on the job application or one asked directly by your prospective employer during an interview. You might feel some anxiety when the question presents itself, and that’s a perfectly valid response to this very touchy […]
When To Ask For A Raise (And How To Get It)
Asking for a raise can seem like a very daunting and anxiety-provoking event for many. For most people, making requests or asks, especially from someone in a position of power over them, is uncomfortable and something they’d rather avoid. It doesn’t need to be painful, though, and the right approach to this situation can prove […]
Commission: What It Is And Examples
If you’re a top-performer at your job, you may feel dissatisfied with the standard 2% raise you’re given each year. After all, it only seems fair that greater contributions bring greater rewards. For professionals like you, commission-based jobs may be the perfect solution. While they carry greater risk, they also provide the opportunity for unlimited […]
Salary Range: What Is It And How Does It Work?
Salary ranges are quite common across all industries. You may have seen them on job descriptions or with information regarding certain careers. Salary ranges are a useful tool that applicants, employees, and employers can all use to their benefit. Key Takeaways: A salary range is a spectrum of salaries expected for a position and provides […]
Family And Medical Leave Act (FMLA): What It Is And Examples
When a circumstance arises that involves an employee’s family duties or a health situation, the federal government provides them with time-off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). While there are stipulations that affect an individual’s eligibility to receive FMLA time-off, it acts as a service for individuals to give them job security in […]
How Bonuses Work: What They Are And Examples
Everyone loves hearing that they’re getting a bonus. Who doesn’t want a little extra money in their pocket for a job well done? Bonuses are great not just because they give you a little income boost but because they’re also a sign that you’re doing something right. The only downside to getting a bonus is […]
Paid Holidays: What And When Are They?
Employers compensate their teams in more ways than just a salary for their work and effort. It’s standard to provide a benefits package that includes some form of paid time off. Incorporating paid time off can improve employee satisfaction and motivation. There are a few ways that an organization can go about supplying their employees […]
How Many Hours Can A Minor Work?
If your teen wants a job to start saving money for college or so they can just have some spending money for the mall, they aren’t the only ones. But young is too young to work? The Fair Labor Standards ACT (FLSA) states that minors can begin working at the age of 14, although some […]
Discretionary Vs Non-Discretionary Bonus
Are you a business owner who’s ready to give out bonuses to hard-working employees? If so, you’ve probably run into the question of whether to hand out discretionary or non-discretionary bonuses. So which type of bonus should your organization reward employees with? Choosing the right type of bonus to award will help you reward your […]
What Is A Floating Holiday? (Policies, Examples, And Differences From PTO)
Offering your staff paid time off benefits improves motivation, productivity, and overall employee satisfaction. In addition to providing a good salary, paid time off in a benefits package is an investment in an organization’s long-term success. The way that each company chooses to handle its employee’s time off is unique to their values and goals […]
Comp Time: What It Is And Examples
When an employee puts in more than 40 hours in a given week, it’s considered working over a full-time schedule. Most organizations will compensate this time by paying them overtime pay for the extra hours they worked. Some, however, will opt to supply their employees with compensatory time instead. Key Takeaways: Compensatory time, also known […]
How To Find Your Employment History
While applying for a job, you’ll likely be asked to provide your employment history. Your employment history is a record of the work positions you’ve held in the past. It varies by employer, so sometimes you’ll be asked for recent history (the past couple of years), and sometimes for an extensive history going back many […]
How Does Tuition Reimbursement Work?
It’s no secret that college is expensive. Whether you’ve just graduated from high school or have been a member of the workforce for a while, this cost is a significant deterrent to many potential students, as it can be difficult to work and study at the same time. The good news is that there are […]
Gross Pay Vs. Net Pay: What’s The Difference? (With Examples)
If you haven’t already, you’ll quickly learn that there is a significant difference between the amount of money your employer pays you and the amount you get to take home at the end of the day. These two numbers are called gross pay and net pay, and it’s important to understand the difference between the […]
How Does Holiday Pay Work? (With Examples)
The holidays are a time to eat homemade dinners, spend time with loved ones, and appreciate the good things in life. For some professionals, though, the office stays open through the holidays, and they’re expected to be there. If this is the case for your job, you could be wondering whether you’ll be compensated extra […]
Labor unions play an important role in our economy. They are an aspect that promotes economic democracy and ensures the protection of their members. If you’re considering joining a union, taking a union job, or simply wanting to know what the pros and cons of doing so are, keep reading to find out more about […]
What Are Stipends And How Do They Work?
Stipends are payments made to individuals who are ineligible to receive a regular salary for one reason or another. In this article, we’ll go over exactly what a stipend is, who usually receives one, and the key differences between a stipend and a salary. Key Takeaways: A stipend is a form of income that covers […]
Many people work part-time jobs as a way to earn money while still having time to tend to their other responsibilities, but it can be difficult to know just how many hours a week a part-time job requires. In this article, we’ll discuss what a part-time job is, why someone might work a part-time job, […]
Salary Vs. Hourly Pay: Key Differences
Most employees receive either a salary or an hourly wage. There are a few differences between these types of positions, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Key Takeaways: A salary is a consistent payment that are usually calculated on an annual basis. An hourly rate is the amount of money an employee receives […]
Everything You Need To Know About Employee Stock Options (With Examples)
Compensation packages can be tricky to understand. One increasingly common benefit, especially among start-up companies, is offering employee stock options. Once reserved for top-level executives, stock options are now being extended to all levels of employees. In this article, we’ll go over what employee stock options are, examples of how they work, and the tax […]
What Is A Comprehensive Benefits Package? (With Examples)
When it comes to deciding how attractive a job offer is, salary plays a pivotal role. But savvy job-seekers know that base salary, while important, is just one piece in the decision-making process. To get a complete picture of what your employment contract is worth, you also have to look at what benefits the employer […]
What Is A Merit Pay Increase? (And Why It Matters)
Rewarding employees for outstanding performance is a good strategy for retaining top talent and motivating others. One way that firms incentivize quality performance is by offering merit increases. But companies can’t grant merit increases willy-nilly. Without a proper plan in place, employees can become frustrated with a system that doesn’t clearly define a path to […]
What Is A Job Offer? (With Examples)
You’re looking for a new job and you get a job offer from a company. What exactly does that mean? Does it mean you’re hired? Or are there other steps involved? When you look at the words, job offer, it seems like they’re giving you the job. This could actually be the case, but it […]
How To Cash A Paycheck Without A Bank Account?
Getting a paycheck is exciting, but it can be difficult to know what to do with it, especially if you don’t have a bank account. In this article, we’ll talk about where you can cash a check if you don’t have a bank account, which of those options is cheapest, and what you need to […]
All The Different Types Of Compensation
If you’re in the middle of the process of searching for a new job, you’re probably beginning to encounter a lot of new vocabulary. In particular, you might be starting to see and hear a lot of new terms related to compensation. As a job candidate, it’s essential to understand the definition of compensation, as […]
Leave Of Absence: What Is It and How Does It Work?
There could be a number of reasons for needing to take a leave of absence, but know it can benefit you in the long run. Before you begin to pack up your things and prepare your departure, you will need to take the time and strategize your game plan. Prior to speaking with your supervisor, […]
What Is Job Classification and How Does It Work?
Job classification is a system of looking at job descriptions and the duties a position requires and then categorizing them. It sounds pretty confusing and it’s not something you’d want to do by yourself – luckily there’s already a really good system of classification in place, and we’ll discuss that more later. The reason that […]
What Is Competitive Pay? (With Examples)
The language of job searching is not always straightforward. Anyone who spends time going through job postings will see one phrase pop up fairly often: competitive pay. If you’re here, you’re probably wondering what the heck that means. Offering competitive pay is one way for employers to attract and retain top talent in their industry. […]
What Is A Pay Grade And How Does It Work?
Being fairly compensated for their work is pertinent to any employee. You bring passion and diligence to your position and in return, you rely on being paid accordingly. Pay grades are commonly used to establish a satisfactory market starting salary for particular positions and fields based on various background factors of the employee. Key Takeaways: […]
Minimum Wage Rates In New York State
The minimum wage in New York State is currently set at $12.50, as of January 10, 2021. This is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. However, the minimum wage in the state varies depending on various factors. In this article, we’ll discuss how New York State’s minimum wage varies between different industries, locations, […]
How Many Hours Is A Full-Time Job?
While looking for employment, it’s important to understand what jobs qualify as full-time versus part-time work. Full-time jobs often come with a host of benefits, such as healthcare insurance coverage, paid time off, and retirement plans. However, what jobs constitute as such can be unclear, as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) doesn’t legally prescribe […]
Differences Between Semimonthly Vs Biweekly Pay Schedules
When you’re job hunting, it can seem like there’s a whole ocean of information to consider. Navigating this ocean may be difficult at times, but ultimately, you need to know which jobs will best fit your qualifications and lifestyle. This will save you a heap of time and effort. Considering the fact that one of […]
Average Annual Raises: What’s Standard And Tips For Beating It
A raise is a monetary offer that symbolizes all the strong work you’ve done for your company. Even when you feel well-deserving of receiving a raise, that doesn’t make asking for one any less intimidating. Most people are uncomfortable bringing up the discussion of being paid more money with their supervisor. Nerves are common in […]
What is the Average Starting Salary for College Graduates?
You’ve got your degree and you’re ready to enter the world of work. Now the important question: how much can you expect to earn right out of college? It’s no secret that average starting salaries for college grads coming into entry-level positions depend on what you majored in, where you went to school, and where […]