Harris County, in partnership with Gallagher, conducted a comprehensive job analysis and benchmarking process to ensure roles are evaluated consistently and aligned with both the County’s internal structure and the external labor market. The review focused on how work is actually performed—rather than job titles—using Position Description Questionnaires (PDQs), job descriptions, job shadowing, occupational panels, and interviews with department leadership.

Jobs were evaluated within a standardized Countywide classification framework and benchmarked against relevant market roles using reliable, third-party published salary surveys and custom surveys of peer public-sector organizations. Market data was reviewed for accuracy, adjusted to Harris County’s labor market, and aged to a consistent point in time to support valid comparisons.

Classification and benchmarking decisions considered job duties, scope and complexity, decision-making authority, and organizational impact. This approach provides a transparent, defensible foundation for classification and pay grade placement while supporting internal equity, external competitiveness, and long-term compensation management.