Pay Structure
Range midpoint
Also called: midpoint, midpoint salary
The center of a pay range, typically anchored to the market median for the role.
The midpoint of a pay range is the reference point the entire range is built around. Most employers set the midpoint at the market median (50th percentile) for the role, then build the minimum and maximum around it using the desired range spread.
Midpoints serve two purposes:
- External anchor: They're how you express your pay-positioning strategy. A "100% of market" midpoint means you're paying at market median for that role.
- Internal benchmark: They drive compa-ratio calculations and compensation reporting.
Midpoints typically move 2–4% per year as the market shifts. Survey vendors publish "aged" midpoint data so HR teams can update their structures without re-doing benchmarking from scratch.