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Pay levels and awards

Sheila AttwoodEditor's message: Pay is the main building block of employee reward packages, and organisations will need to take the time to set salaries at the right level for their business. Guidance on appropriate salaries for job roles is likely to come from salary surveys, which provide information on market pay rates for similar roles and organisations.

The majority of organisations conduct a pay review each year, whether or not it results in a pay increase for employees. Organisations can ensure that they are keeping up with the market by reviewing the value of annual pay awards in other organisations, using pay settlement analyses.

When reviewing pay levels, you should bear in mind the level of the national minimum wage, which increases in April each year. Employers may also wish to conduct an equal pay review to ensure that their pay structures and rates comply with equal pay legislation.

Sheila Attwood, senior content manager, data and HR insights

New and updated

  • Type:
    International

    Global minimum wage rates comparative table

    Enhanced to include information on the EU Directive on adequate minimum wages and updated to reflect changes to the minimum wage rates in Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands and Romania, effective from 1 January 2025. 

  • Type:
    Editor's choice

    Coming soon

    Updated to include details of our upcoming webinar, which will discuss how organisations are navigating HR and reward priorities in 2025. 

  • Date:
    6 January 2025
    Type:
    Commentary and insights

    Employment law 2025: Six key tasks for HR

    In 2025, HR professionals face the unique challenge of dealing with business-as-usual employment law changes, such as increases in statutory maternity, paternity and sick pay, while also beginning their preparations in earnest for the looming Employment Rights Bill. We look at what HR needs to do to meet its employment law obligations and prepare for the coming year

  • Date:
    3 January 2025
    Type:
    News

    Cost of employing low-wage staff to hit record high

    The cost of employing low-wage workers will hit a record high in 2025, according to an analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies.

  • Type:
    Editor's choice

    Survey analysis and Benchmarking data: The complete list

    Updated to include new benchmarking survey data on pay awards December 2024. 

  • Date:
    19 December 2024
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Pay trends December 2024: a look back at the year

    With 2024 coming to an end, we explore pay awards implemented this year and assess how settlements have varied across different sectors of the economy.

  • Type:
    Economic data

    Pay awards

    Updated to include the Brightmine pay settlement data for the three months to the end of November 2024. Brightmine will publish the next pay figures on 22 January 2025. 

  • Type:
    Economic data

    Average earnings

    Updated to include official earnings data from the ONS for October 2024. The next ONS release date is 21 January 2025. 

  • Date:
    12 December 2024
    Type:
    Commentary and insights

    The impact of the NICs increase on 2025 pay reviews: Stories from HR

    The announcement of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) increases in the October Budget has had an impact on many organisations' 2025 pay rise plans. We look at the expected effect on pay award budgets.

  • Date:
    9 December 2024
    Type:
    Podcasts and webinars

    Webinar: December 2024 pay and labour market update

    Our regular update of the economy, labour market and pay-setting environment will help organisations prepare for their 2025 pay and benefits reviews.

About this topic

HR and legal information and guidance relating to pay levels and awards.

Pay levels and awards: key resources

Tools for pay specialists