Compensation data prediction

A method of predicting compensation data, the method comprising:

• obtaining compensation data, associated with a job category, with at least one datum being associated with each of a plurality of characteristics associated with the job category;
• determining values of factors, associated with respective ones of the characteristics, and a base value that when used as operands of a function yield estimates of the obtained data such that relationships between the estimates and corresponding obtained compensation data satisfy at least one criterion;
• using a portion of the values of factors and the base value by a computer to automatically obtain estimates of compensation data;
• deriving reference data using the obtained compensation data and the values of factors;
• aggregating the reference data to determine the base value;
• comparing estimated compensation data with obtained compensation data of the same job and having the same associated characteristics as the estimated compensation data;
• adjusting the values of the factors as appropriate depending upon results of comparing the estimated and obtained compensation data;
• and
• repeating the deriving, aggregating, using, comparing, and adjusting until comparing the estimated and obtained compensation data satisfy the at least one criterion.