California Compensation Survey 2025

Access to concise information on what other, competing employers pay is essential to making cost-effective pay decisions. Employers of all sizes must have access to solid job-by-job wage and salary data to attract and retain the talent they need.  Until now, there have been no general industry compensation surveys that relate specifically to California’s diverse employers.  Without your participation, such data still will not exist.

It’s free to participate! Submit your data and receive the Survey Report at no cost. Access to the database, so you can produce customizable reports, is available for a nominal fee.

Any employer with California employees seeking access to accurate, competitive salary data to make informed pay decisions.

Register at the form above and an email will be sent to you on July 7, 2025 when the survey opens for data submissions. There are no fees, it’s completely free unless you wish to purchase full access to the survey database.

For more information contact:

Cynthia Dolan

 617-784-5162

Cynthia_Dolan@AJG.com

All responses are confidential and reported only in the aggregate.

The California Chamber of Commerce/Gallagher Compensation Survey is different because it's focused on meeting the needs of California employers across its multiple labor market areas.  In addition, those employers who report their data will have access to Gallagher’s national compensation survey report, giving them the data they need to competitively pay their out-of-state employees, as well.

We assure participants that all data will be collected, compiled and reported by Gallagher’s experienced survey team through a secure portal.  Data are reported only in the aggregate, and only when sufficient sample sizes have been reached.  No employer is identified with any specific salary information.  Participants can choose whether or not to be listed as participants.  All data reporting is done in strict compliance with U.S. Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) rules.

We understand that HR professionals’ time is always limited, to say the least!  That’s why we’ve designed the survey to be as user-friendly and time efficient as possible.  You can submit your data directly from your HRIS system, or by uploading a spreadsheet.  Of course, it is important to carefully match your jobs to the survey jobs, but once that’s done, the data submission should be quite streamlined.  The time required will be determined by how many employees you have and how well-organized your data systems are.

If you submit valid data, you will receive the 2025 survey report at no charge.  In addition, you may opt to access the online database, enabling you to create custom data cuts, for a nominal fee.

A survey’s utility is directly correlated to the validity of the data upon which it is based. Every effort will be made to ensure the integrity of the data submitted.  We utilize a combination of statistical programs, matched sample comparisons and human data checks to isolate ambiguous or questionable responses. In instances where Gallagher encounters questionable data, we typically reach out to the survey participant for clarification before including the data in the survey database.

If an organization verifies that these ‘questionable’ data are correct and appropriate, the data will be incorporated into the survey. If we receive no response to our queries, analyst judgment is used to include or exclude the data in question. Once the data has been verified, the data processing function begins.

The Cal Chamber/Gallagher California survey is superior to other possible data sources, such as self-reported “data” on free websites or survey aggregators, for the following reasons:

• It is focused on documenting California’s different and very diverse labor markets on a job-by-job basis
• The data are authentic… reported directly by the employers with whom you compete for talent
• None of the data will come from employees themselves (employees reporting their own salaries may be tempted to inflate them!)
• No theoretical predictive algorithms are applied to the data … the data we report are real numbers from real employers
• Participants will have the option of creating custom data cuts to meet their specific needs

Data entry will begin on July 7, 2025. The process is quick and easy, and you need not submit information all in one sitting if your time is fragmented. The deadline for data submission is August 15, 2025.

The California Chamber of Commerce/Gallagher Compensation Survey report will be available at the beginning of September 2025.

Yes, it is the intent of both CalChamber and Gallagher to conduct this survey every year.  The ability to do so, however, is dependent on getting enough data to make it useful. That’s why it’s so important for as many employers as possible to submit their data.  Tell your HR friends in other companies!

For more information contact:

Cynthia Dolan

 617-784-5162

Cynthia_Dolan@AJG.com

Having access to market compensation data is valuable, but it’s important to understand that this data alone does not make an organization compliant with Pay Data Reporting, Pay Equity, or Pay Transparency requirements. Market data serves as a reference point—it helps organizations benchmark their pay practices and identify potential disparities. However, compliance requires a proactive approach that includes analyzing internal pay structures, documenting policies, addressing discrepancies, and ensuring transparency in communication. In short, market data is a tool—not a solution. It supports the audit process, but it doesn’t fulfill regulatory requirements on its own.

Gallagher Compensation & Rewards Consulting provides employers with the custom tools they need to manage pay in a way that supports improved financial and operating results, market-competitiveness, internal pay equity, cost-effectiveness and legal compliance.

Gallagher maintains and utilizes one of the largest compensation survey libraries among consulting firms, with dozens of current surveys from reputable survey providers that incorporate data received directly from employers of all sizes and types. Gallagher has long recognized the need for legitimate, specific California pay data as input to guiding clients’ pay decisions. Consequently, Gallagher’s California-based compensation consultants were delighted to be able to partner with the California Chamber of Commerce to develop this new, much-needed survey.

Gallagher has been conducting surveys for several decades. The company regularly conducts various surveys to compile and report insights on employee compensation and benefits trends, risk management, and organizational wellbeing. These surveys help Gallagher provide tailored solutions and strategic advice to its clients. Gallagher's commitment to research and data-driven insights has been a longstanding practice.