1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Job Searching

Wage and Salary Information

Minimum wage, overtime, salary surveys, calculators, benefits, plus salary information and resources.
Job Search Compensation Center
Salary information, salary surveys, negotiation strategies, salary tools, and more resources to research how much you should be paid.
Getting Paid What You're Worth
it is important for job seekers to be well prepared to negotiate a salary that will pay you what you are worth. Here's how to get paid what you're worth.
Back Pay
Back pay is the difference between what an employee was paid and the amount he or she should have been paid.
Benefits and Perks?
What perks and benefits are available and how to get them.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides for minimum standards for wages and overtime, and details how covered worktime must be compensated. The Fair Labor Standards Act also contains provisions related to child labor, and equal pay.
Glassdoor.com
Glassdoor.com contains reviews, ratings, company information, salaries, CEO approval rating, competitors, content providers, and more company information.
Hazard Pay
Hazard pay is additional pay for performing hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship.
Holiday Pay
Holiday pay is pay for holidays, like Christmas Day, or other time not worked (like vacation) when a business may be closed or the employee is permitted to take time off from work.
Last Paycheck
When will you receive your last paycheck if you resign or are terminated from your job? It depends on state law and on company policy.
Merit Pay
Merit pay is a pay increase based on goals or achievements set by an employer, rather than a pay rate based on a union contract or a defined pay scale for a position.
Overtime
Workers earning less than $23,660 per year ($455 per week) are guaranteed overtime protection, however, there are exemptions to the overtime regulations.
Paid Time Off
A paid time off (PTO) policy combines vacation, sick time and personal time into a single bank of days for employee paid time off. Here are the details from About.com's Guide to Human Resources, Susan Heathfield.
Paycheck
When you start a job, the amount you will take home in your paycheck depends on deductions for federal, state, and local taxes. There are paycheck caculators to help you determine how much your paycheck will be after deductions.
Salary History
Many job postings ask you to include your salary history when applying for the position. It's important to be careful how you disclose your salary history, so you have flexibility when it comes to negotiating salary.
Salary Requirements
Many job postings ask you to include your salary history or your salary requirements when applying for the position. Should you, or shouldn't you, include it?
Sick Pay
Federal law does not provide for paid sick leave, other than FMLA. State law may vary and companies may have a company policy providing paid time off when you are sick.
Severance Pay
Severance pay may be given to employees upon termination of employment. Severance pay is usually based on length of employment.
Tips - Tips and Pay
When an employee (typically waitstaff or a similar occupation) receives tips, the employer is only required to pay $2.13 per hour in wages.
Vacation Pay
Federal law does not provide for vacation pay. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick time, or holidays. Vacation pay is based upon an agreement between an employer and an employee, either a collective bargaining agreement or company policy.
W-2 Form
Employers may ask for copies of your W2 forms to verify your compensation prior to making a job offer. If you don't have copies of your past W-2 forms you can ask your employer(s) for a copy or order copies of your past tax returns directly from the IRS.
Explore Job Searching
About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Write a Cover Letter

Looking for a new job? Use these tips and put your best foot forward. More >

  1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Job Searching
  4. Salary / Benefits / Legal
  5. Wage and Salary Information

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.