In the late 1990s,the compensation plan at Beta privies for base wages about 20 percent below wage levels for similar jobs in Lafayette.But half of company profits were paid out each quarter as a fixed percentage of employee wage.Distrunited profits averaged more than 50 percent of base wages.This caused average total compensation at Beta to be 20 percent above that of the area.Because of the high pay, Beta remained a popular employer,able to take it's pick from a long waiting list of applicants.