Case Study: Developing a Location-Based Pay Strategy for a Remote-First Workplace

Client Overview & Challenge

Our client, a national marketing company, faced a transformative challenge in the wake of COVID-19. As the company pivoted to a remote-first workplace, leadership sought a compensation strategy that would support distributed hiring while ensuring pay equity, market competitiveness, and operational sustainability. The shift required balancing market-aligned salaries, internal equity, and talent attraction while securing business-wide alignment.

Solution: A Data-Driven Approach

We partnered to help our client build a comprehensive location-based pay strategy using on-demand market data with geographic differentials. The approach included a tiered geographic pay structure incorporating city-based differentials, regional pay bands, and cost-of-living and labor analyses. By collaborating across HR, finance, and business units, the company ensured alignment with broader strategic goals while maintaining pay transparency and compliance.

Implementation & Execution

The Comp Consultants provided internal communication strategies, training for HR and managers, and location specific market intelligence. The new framework enabled our client to expand its hiring reach, creating a standardized yet flexible compensation model that supported its remote workforce. Regular updates to geographic pay differentials ensure that the structure remains responsive to market trends and economic shifts.

Results & Impact

Following implementation, our client achieved 30% faster hiring cycles, improved pay transparency, sustainable cost management, and enhanced pay equity. By leveraging expert guidance and real-time compensation data, our client successfully transitioned to a scalable, fair, and competitive remote-first compensation model, empowering its workforce and securing long-term operational efficiency.