Pay Structure and Internal Equity Review

Compare pay between two groups of people doing similar work. Enter each person's pay, time in role, and performance. The workbook shows the raw pay gap and what remains after accounting for time in role, helping you decide whether a deeper, controlled review is warranted.

One Excel workbook that screens two groups for a pay gap

The workbook opens with a filled-in example so you can see how the calculations work. Enter your own data for two groups to measure the pay gap and see how much time in role explains.

• Pay Structure and Internal Equity Review. Assign each person to one of two groups and enter pay, time in role, and performance. See the raw pay gap and the adjusted gap after accounting for time in role. The workbook opens with a filled-in example to help you understand the results before entering your own data.
• Adjusted results and next steps. The Adjusted View tab shows how much of the pay gap time in role explains and what remains. A one-page summary brings the results together. The Action and Privilege tab and Benchmark and Law tab explain the limits of a self-assessment and how a controlled analysis is conducted.

Review pay differences in three steps

Compare two groups of employees, see the difference in their pay, and check how much of that gap time in role explains.

• Enter your pay data. Assign each person to Group 1 or Group 2, then enter pay, years in role, and performance.
• Compare average and median pay. A large difference between the figures usually points to a few outliers rather than a broad pattern. Start by reviewing those individual salaries before investigating the wider group.
• Check the adjusted gap. The adjusted view removes the portion explained by time in role and shows what remains, helping you decide whether a deeper, controlled review is warranted.

Who this workbook is for

Built for

• An HR or compensation lead reviewing internal equity before deciding whether to commission a full audit.
• A business owner or lean HR team reviewing pay for the first time and identifying differences worth investigating.
• A consultant or fractional HR lead who runs a directional equity screen for clients and wants the method and its limits documented.

If you are looking for

• A privileged statistical pay-equity audit for use in a dispute requires a controlled analysis run under privilege. That is a different exercise from this directional screen.
• For a pay structure with grades and ranges, see the Salary Band Builder.

Before you buy

What format is it and can I edit it?

It is one Excel workbook that also works in Google Sheets. The download is five files: the workbook, a Start Here, the one-page Quick Reference, the product license, and a short guide to using it in Google Sheets. Every input and formula is editable. Duplicate the file to screen another pair of groups.

Is this a pay-equity audit?

No. This is a directional self-assessment that identifies pay differences worth investigating. A defensible pay-equity audit involves controlled statistical analysis run under privilege. The workbook helps you decide whether to commission that deeper review.

How accurate is the result?

The gap calculations are exact for the data you enter. The adjusted view correctly removes the portion explained by time in role. A full audit also controls for other legitimate factors behind pay differences. Use the results to identify questions worth investigating, particularly when comparing small groups, where the findings are directional only.

Does it include market or survey data?

No. The workbook uses the pay, tenure, and performance data you enter for your employees. Obtain market data separately if you need it.

What is the refund policy?

Digital products are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. To request a refund, email support@truestephr.com or reply to your receipt within 30 days of purchase.

What happens after I buy?

Your download link appears immediately after checkout, and your email receipt includes the same link. Open the workbook in Excel or Google Sheets and review the example before entering your own data. For setup questions, email support@truestephr.com.

How the download works

Your files arrive as a single ZIP download, best opened on a computer. Save it, extract it (right-click and select Extract All on Windows, or double-click on a Mac), then open the Start Here file first. PDFs open in any reader, and editable files work in Microsoft Excel or free equivalents, including LibreOffice and Google Sheets. No other software is needed. Step-by-step help for every device is at truestephr.com/pages/download-help.

Scope

These working tools and editable templates support clear, consistent, and defensible pay decisions and provide general HR information, not legal advice. Wage, overtime, exempt classification, pay transparency, and equal pay rules vary by state and change over time. Have qualified counsel review your bands, increases, and classifications against applicable law before finalizing them.