n. a specific job or position which serves as a reference point for evaluating other jobs below or above it. This type of benchmarking is important as it sets and normalizes all other pay classes to a level of income that is commensurate to the job description.
BENCHMARK JOB: “As a prerequisite to being a reference point, a benchmark job should already be of a pay rate that is fair and of a title or description which is not bound to be modified in the immediate future.”