Pay Satisfaction Questionnaire – PSQ
Measures multidimensional employee satisfaction with pay level, benefits, raises, and pay structure/administration.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Pay Satisfaction Questionnaire – PSQ was developed by Herbert G. Heneman III & Donald P. Schwab (1985). It is designed to measure Pay Satisfaction. The scale is intended for use with Working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 18 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Pay Level, Benefits, Raises, Pay Structure and Administration.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Pay Level | 1,5,10,14 | 4 |
| Benefits | 2,6,11,15 | 4 |
| Raises | 3,4,7,16 | 4 |
| Pay Structure and Administration | 8,9,12,13,17,18 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 18 to 90. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Pay Satisfaction: 18 – 42
- Moderate Pay Satisfaction: 43 – 66
- High Pay Satisfaction: 67 – 90
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Composite alpha: .77 to .88; Subscale alphas: .73 to .96.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.