The three traditional methods of surveying wage data are personal interviews, telephone interviews, and mailed questionnaires. The most reliable and most expensive method is the personal interview. Mailed questionnaires should be used only to survey jobs that have a uniform meaning throughout the industry. If there is any doubt concerning the definition of a job, the responses to a mailed questionnaire may be unreliable. Another potential problem with mailed questionnaires is that they can be answered by someone who is not thoroughly familiar with the wage structure. The telephone method, which is quick but often yields incomplete information, may be used to clarify responses to mailed questionnaires.
The Internet represents the fastest growing and latest technology for conducting wage/salary surveys. The benefits of using the Internet are that it is inexpensive and quick. The drawbacks to using the Internet for conducting salary surveys are similar to those encountered with a mailed questionnaire. Because the advantages of cost and speed are so substantial, there is little doubt that the Internet is fast becoming the method of choice for conducting salary surveys of all types. Figure 13.3 lists some topics that might be covered in a wage/salary survey.