The City Charter mandates the City to pay the generally prevailing compensation in the community to career service employees. Each year the Compensation Unit conducts a pay survey that examines pay being given to employees doing comparable work in other organizations within the Denver metropolitan area. There are three possible outcomes: pay increases, no changes in pay, or pay decreases.

Pay survey recommendations are submitted to the Career Service Board and hearings are held so that employees and other interested parties can express their views and concerns or present factual material which may affect the survey recommendations. When the Board approves the recommendations, the pay plan is then sent to the Mayor and City Council.

While the CSA Compensation Unit is responsible for surveying, analyzing results, and recommending pay, it is the City Council which gives final approval.