A pay scale (also called a salary structure) is a formal system that defines compensation ranges—minimum, midpoint, and maximum—for roles across an organization. It typically includes grades and ranges that align pay with factors such as experience, job level, skills, and responsibility, helping ensure fairness, consistency, and competitive compensation. 

Pay scales provide transparency and support career progression by showing how employees can grow within defined bands. Unlike DOE (Depends on Experience), which signals flexible pay based on individual qualifications, a pay scale offers a standardized framework for budgeting, hiring, and internal equity.