Compa-Ratio Calculator
Find where a salary sits relative to the pay range midpoint.
How compa-ratio works
Compa-ratio (comparative ratio) shows where an employee's actual salary sits relative to the midpoint of their assigned pay range or grade — the standard compensation-benchmarking metric used in pay equity and merit-increase planning.
Enter the employee's salary and the midpoint of their pay range. The calculator returns the compa-ratio as a percentage.
A compa-ratio of 100% means the employee is paid exactly at the range midpoint; below 100% means below midpoint, and above 100% means above midpoint.
The formula
Compa-ratio = Employee salary ÷ Pay range midpoint × 100
Divide the employee's salary by the midpoint of their assigned pay range, then multiply by 100.
Worked example
$95,000 salary against a $100,000 range midpoint
$95,000 ÷ $100,000 × 100 = 95% compa-ratio — 5% below midpoint.
Frequently asked questions
What compa-ratio range is considered normal?
Many organizations consider 80%-120% a typical range, with new or developing employees often lower and experienced top performers often higher — the right range depends on your organization's compensation philosophy.
Is a compa-ratio below 100% a problem?
Not necessarily — it can reflect an employee newer to the role, still developing. It's worth reviewing alongside tenure and performance, and tracking for pay-equity patterns across groups.
How is compa-ratio different from a percentile within the range?
Compa-ratio compares to the midpoint specifically. A range percentile shows where salary falls across the full min-to-max spread, which can tell a different story depending on how wide the range is.
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