See the bigger picture
Base pay vs. total compensation
Salary is only one part of an offer.
What does it mean?
Base pay is regular salary or hourly pay before extras. Total compensation can include bonuses, commissions, equity and employer-paid benefits; definitions vary.
Why does it matter?
Two offers with the same salary can have different benefits, risks and costs.
How can it affect my pay or career?
Separate guaranteed pay from variable pay. Ask about bonus rules, equity vesting, insurance costs and retirement contributions. BLS OEWS wages are not a total-compensation measure; they include some wage components beyond base pay.
Sources & dates
CCS content reviewed October 7, 2026. A review date is not a law’s effective date. Where a source has no single effective date, it is labeled as reference guidance. Open the official source for updates.
- BLS • Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (opens in a new tab)
Reference: compensation definitions; no single effective date
- BLS • OEWS wage definitions (opens in a new tab)
Reference: OEWS definitions; no single effective date