Salary Still King, But Quality Of Life Matters Too

Robert Half’s 2018 Salary Guides outlines factors driving job seekers' decisions in a competitive hiring market.

Any corporate relocation or expansion project is going to involve hiring new employees. With that in mind, staffing firm Robert Half’s 2018 Salary Guides may come in handy as you make your site selection decision. The report features salary ranges for hundreds of professional occupations in the accounting, finance, technology, creative, legal and administrative support fields. The company’s recruiters from across the country also weighed in on the following key drivers prompting professionals to search for — and accept — a new role: compensation, corporate culture, career path, cost of living, commute.

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“We’re seeing job seekers take an increasingly holistic view when assessing whether to accept a job offer,” said Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half. “Salary is still king, but professionals are paying more attention to other factors that can affect their quality of life.

“Highly skilled professionals want assurance that the company will invest in their careers and help them keep their skills current,” McDonald added. “This is especially true in industries that are changing rapidly, like technology and finance.”

Here are the five key elements employers should highlight when recruiting, according to Robert Half:

  1. Compensation: Salary is vital, but be sure to also spotlight the benefits your firm offers when creating compensation packages. The Salary Guides from Robert Half contain new data on the most common benefits, incentives and perks.
  2. Corporate culture: Do people enjoy working for the company? What are your retention rates, and how often do employees refer their friends to open jobs within the company? How is the organization viewed in the industry and community? These are questions hiring managers should anticipate.
  3. Career path: Job candidates frequently ask prospective employers more detailed questions to learn about their chances for advancement within an organization. Is promoting from within the exception or the rule? Are there several potential career paths, or is there just one traditional ladder?
  4. Cost of living: Rising housing prices and other expenses weigh heavily on people considering a job change. They want to know if they can live comfortably and enjoy a good quality of life if they accept a new job.
  5. Commute: Longer commutes mean people want flexibility and jobs closer to home. Before accepting an offer, candidates often ask about flexible work schedules, commuting benefits (e.g., subsidized transportation) and telecommuting options.

The 2018 Salary Guides — along with calculators that adjust salary ranges for local markets — can be accessed online beginning September 1.