Booth doesn't pay at the bottom of the market. Developing skills start between the 25th and 50th percentile with room to grow, and proven or in-demand skills are paid at or above the 50th.
"I can hire an accountant in Manila for half that."
You can. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. In every market, someone will take the lowest offer on the table.
But here's the question I always come back to: what does that hire cost you a year from now? Because cheap and good value are not the same thing. Our team has seen this scenario play out in the form of a backfill a few months later.
We Looked at Every Option
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- Pay at the bottom. Lowest number on the invoice. Also, the fastest way to lose your person to the next recruiter who slides into their inbox.
- Pay at the top, for everyone. Roles fill fast. But you're paying a premium for skills that are still developing, and there's nowhere left to grow.
- Place by skill inside a real market band. Developing skills between the 25th and 50th. Proven skills at or above the 50th. Hot skills higher, with the data to back it up.
Here's What That Actually Gets You
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- People who stay. Pay that keeps up with the market is the biggest retention lever we have. (Our own numbers are in the next post.)
- A shortlist, fast. When the offer is fair, great candidates say yes. Your first shortlist usually lands within one to two weeks.
- Room to grow. Starting a developing skill below the 50th means there's a real path up, and annual reviews make it happen.
- People you'd hire yourself. A bottom-of-market offer shrinks the talent pool before the search even starts.
And Yes, You Still Save
This is the part that gets lost. Hiring through Booth still costs a fraction of hiring locally in the US, UK, or Australia. Paying fairly in the local market doesn't erase that. It protects it. Every early exit means paying to recruit and ramp all over again.
Questions We Get All the Time
Why is Booth's salary higher than another vendor's calculator?
We benchmark every role against market data built with Mercer and don't anchor at the bottom. Many calculators also leave out statutory pay, benefits, and government contributions.
Can I pay less than Booth recommends?
It's your decision. We'll show you the band and tell you honestly what to expect for candidate quality and retention at that level.
Does Booth ever pay above the 50th percentile?
Yes, for proven skills and hot skills where demand outruns supply. We'll show you the data when we recommend it.
