Qu'est-ce que Salary Scale / Pay Grade ?

Definition

A salary scale (or pay grade structure) is a formal framework that organises roles into bands or grades, each with a defined salary range (minimum, midpoint, maximum), ensuring that comparable roles are compensated equitably and that progression pathways are transparent and predictable.

In practice

Salary scales serve multiple functions: they ensure internal pay equity (people doing comparable work receive comparable pay), provide a framework for merit increases and promotion decisions, guide hiring managers on appropriate offer levels, and reduce the risk of pay discrimination claims. They can be designed as traditional step-based structures (fixed increments for seniority) or range-based structures (min/mid/max with merit-based positioning within the range). In Belgium, sector-level joint commissions (commissions paritaires) define classification categories and minimum wages for each function level — this serves as the legal floor above which company-level scales are built. The EU Pay Transparency Directive (transposed by 2026) will require employers to provide salary range information in job postings and to conduct regular pay equity analyses, making documented salary scales a regulatory necessity as well as a management tool.

Key takeaway

Salary scales are the most effective tool for preventing pay inequity from accumulating silently over time — and will become a legal requirement under the EU Pay Transparency Directive.