This snapshot survey is conducted four times a year and provides current salary increase budget data for more than 100 markets worldwide.
To be included as a participant, you must confirm your data in each edition, even if no updates are needed. Simply return to the survey and click the Submit button to confirm your previously entered information.
Participation is free, and summary results are complimentary.
The survey is available in English, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.
What data is collected in this survey?
Topics differ slightly for each edition. The following topics are covered in this survey:
Edition 1
- Contact information
- Company profile
- Policy framework
- Salary increase budgets for 2026
- Turnover for 2025
Edition 2
- Salary increase budgets for 2026 — provide updated amounts if they have changed
- Salary increase budgets for 2027
Edition 3
- Salary increase budgets for 2026 — provide updated amounts if they have changed
- Salary increase budgets for 2027 — provide updated amounts if they have changed
- Midyear turnover for 2026
Edition 4
- Salary increase budgets for 2027 — provide updated amounts if they have changed
- Promotional increases
How do I participate?
Participation is simple. There is one survey for all four editions.
To participate, go to the survey and enter your email address to begin. You will receive a unique link by email to access your survey submission.
To be considered a participant, you must confirm your data in each edition, even if nothing has changed. Simply revisit the survey and click the Submit button to confirm your previously entered data.
How are salary increases defined in SBS?
The SBS survey collects two salary increase budget figures:
- Total salary increase budget percentage, which includes promotional increases, adjustments for inflation, mandatory increases, indexation, and merit increases
- Merit increase budget percentage
How do I update my submission?
If you have participated in this survey before, you can return to the survey and enter your email address to receive a link to your existing submission.
Update your submission as needed, and click the Submit button.
What if I can't access the survey?
If you have trouble accessing the survey, please contact us for assistance.
How will I know that you received my submission?
After you click the Submit button to complete the survey, you will receive a confirmation email.
Can I download a copy of my survey submission?
Yes. After submitting your data, you will see an option to download a PDF copy of your survey submission at the end of the survey.
Do SBS reports include salary increases by career level and industry?
Industry-specific data are not included in the free participant report. However, they are available in Global Compensation Planning (GCPR). Check out the TAAP catalogue for details.
If I participate in this edition of SBS, can I have access to the previous edition?
Survey participants receive free access to individual reports for all available markets in which they have submitted data.
To receive the free summary report, a submission must be received for that specific edition. There are four editions each year.
SBS is the primary data source for Global Compensation Planning (GCPR), which is available for purchase. The free SBS reports provided to participants include a summary of the data; more robust data are available through GCPR.
What is the survey deadline?
This survey remains open January to November each year, with a temporary two-week closure at the end of the participation period for each edition. If you have participated in this survey within the past year, you will receive an email reminder during the participation period for each edition.
Deadlines for each edition are listed below.
When will the results be available?
Survey results release shortly after each edition closes. If you participated, you will receive a complimentary summary report for each market where you provided data.
To be included as a participant, you must confirm your data in each edition, even if no updates are needed. Simply return to the survey and click the Submit button to confirm your previously entered information.
Participation and results dates for 2026
- Edition 1: Participate by January 30 | Results available February 25
- Edition 2: Participate by May 1 | Results available 27 May
- Edition 3: Participate by July 31 | Results available August 26
- Edition 4: Participate by November 6 | Results available December 2
Which markets are included in this survey?
Participate in as many of the markets listed below as you like. You may submit all selected markets in a single survey.
- Americas: Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay
- Asia Pacific: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China-Beijing, China-Changsha, China-Changzhou, China-Chengdu, China-Chongqing, China-Dalian, China-Guangdong, China-Hangzhou-Ningbo, China-Hefei-Wuhu, China-Nanjing, China-Qingdao, China-Shanghai, China-Shenyang-Changchun, China-Shenzhen, China-Suzhou, China-Tianjin, China-Wuhan, China-Wuxi, China-Xiamen-Fuzhou, China-Xian, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
- Central & Eastern Europe: Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
- Middle East & Africa: Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zambia
- Western Europe: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
How do I access my free results?
Access to the free individual reports will be provided via iMercer.com once each edition is published. An email notification will be sent to participants once access has been granted; this email will contain instructions on how to access the results.
To be considered a participant, confirmation of the data is required in each edition, even if your data has not changed. Simply revisit the survey and click the Submit button to confirm previously entered data.
How do I purchase the results?
SBS is not available to purchase for participants or non-participants; however, there are a number of purchase options available for Global Compensation Planning (GCPR).
Visit the Shop if you'd like to purchase the results.
View the TAAP catalogue for more information.