fc.

fc.

paycom

paycom

building a benchmarking tool for HR and payroll software company used by 4M+ employees.

ROLE

Product Design Intern

ROLE

Product Design Intern

TEAM

2 Product Managers 1 Senior Product Designer 4 Product Designers

TEAM

2 Product Managers 1 Senior Product Designer 4 Product Designers

DURATION

12 weeks (May-Aug 2025)

DURATION

12 weeks (May-Aug 2025)

OVERVIEW

Building Paycom’s first salary benchmarking tool!

Over a 12-week internship, I worked with a team of interns to design an MVP tool that helps over 4M+ employees access and competitive pay data—all within Paycom’s existing platform. I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with Product Managers, Senior Product Designers, and Developers, while also receiving valuable mentorship from other product designers across the company! Note: many images are blurred due to NDA.

PROBLEM

Paycom’s system lacked a way for clients to compare salaries against the market.

At the time of this project, Paycom didn’t offer a built-in tool for salary benchmarking within their existing system. Without a built-in tool, companies had to turn to third-party tools, creating interruptions in their workflow and leaving Paycom without a key feature to support fair pay and employee retention.

PROBLEM

Paycom’s system lacked a way for clients to compare salaries against the market.

At the time of this project, Paycom didn’t offer a built-in tool for salary benchmarking within their existing system. Without a built-in tool, companies had to turn to third-party tools, creating interruptions in their workflow and leaving Paycom without a key feature to support fair pay and employee retention.

“I’m looking for salary benchmarking based on data you have for us to use to compare how we’re paying out employees to market standards”

— Paycom Client

“As a manager, I’ve experienced several of my employees leave the company for a higher paying position.”

— Manager

“When I give annual raises, I want to see a salary comparison tool to see how far off my employees’ salaries are from the market rates so I can adjust them accordingly.”

— People Manager

“It would be wonderful if we didn’t have to go anywhere externally to get the data we need.”

— Principle Compensation Analyst

GOAL

Fill a critical gap in Paycom’s current compensation tools by building a salary benchmarking tool that will positively impact 4M+ employees.

We set out to design a benchmarking feature that would improve retention, ensure pay equity, and prevent clients from needing third-party tools. This tool would also position the company more competitively in the HR software space.

GOAL

Fill a critical gap in Paycom’s current compensation tools by building a salary benchmarking tool that will positively impact 4M+ employees.

We set out to design a benchmarking feature that would improve retention, ensure pay equity, and prevent clients from needing third-party tools. This tool would also position the company more competitively in the HR software space.

01.

research

02.

design

03.

test

04.

reflect

USER RESEARCH

Understanding user needs and the competitive landscape

We explored client feedback, interviewed Paycom stakeholders, and studied competitor tools. I also analyzed the different data visualization methods that different competitors used. Through this research, three clear goals emerged: (1) reduce manual labor, (2) compare salaries internally & externally, and (3) make unbiased pay decisions.

USER RESEARCH

Understanding user needs and the competitive landscape

We explored client feedback, interviewed Paycom stakeholders, and studied competitor tools. I also analyzed the different data visualization methods that different competitors used. Through this research, three clear goals emerged: (1) reduce manual labor, (2) compare salaries internally & externally, and (3) make unbiased pay decisions.

Secondary Research — blurred due to NDA restrictions

User Interview Notes — blurred due to NDA restrictions

USER INSIGHTS

Who are we designing for?

We identified three key users—Hiring Managers, Compensation Analysts, and People Managers—each with unique goals but overlapping in their need for accessible, reliable salary data.

USER INSIGHTS

Who are we designing for?

We identified three key users—Hiring Managers, Compensation Analysts, and People Managers—each with unique goals but overlapping in their need for accessible, reliable salary data.

01.

research

02.

design

03.

test

04.

reflect

IDEATION

Mapping decisions and prioritizing features through user flows, IA, and wireframes.

To better understand the product we were designing and the users we were designing it for, I mapped out user flows and information architecture. This was particularly helpful in understanding how salary benchmarking fits in workflows!

IDEATION

Mapping decisions and prioritizing features through user flows, IA, and wireframes.

To better understand the product we were designing and the users we were designing it for, I mapped out user flows and information architecture. This was particularly helpful in understanding how salary benchmarking fits in workflows!

User Flow — blurred due to NDA restrictions

Information Architecture — blurred due to NDA restrictions

DESIGN PROCESS

Wireframing!

After some initial lo-fi ideation, we created a collage of our initial lo-fi iterations, testing layouts for benchmark inputs, outputs, and saved benchmarks. Feedback shaped everything and from it, I continued to iterate on lo- and mid-fi wireframes.

DESIGN PROCESS

Wireframing!

After some initial lo-fi ideation, we created a collage of our initial lo-fi iterations, testing layouts for benchmark inputs, outputs, and saved benchmarks. Feedback shaped everything and from it, I continued to iterate on lo- and mid-fi wireframes.

Initial Lo-fis

PROTOTYPE

Preparing an interactive prototype for user testing

After mapping out appropriate flows for the tasks we created, we prototyped our wireframes.

PROTOTYPE

Preparing an interactive prototype for user testing

After mapping out appropriate flows for the tasks we created, we prototyped our wireframes.

Initial Lo-fis — blurred due to NDA restrictions

01.

research

02.

design

03.

test

04.

reflect

USER TESTING

Validating usability through tests through 6 rounds of testing

I created and refined our user test plan, as well as led user tests with hiring managers and product managers. We gave users real tasks like creating and saving benchmarks and insights led us to simplify flows, highlight important widgets, and refine saved benchmark interactions.

USER TESTING

Validating usability through tests through 6 rounds of testing

I created and refined our user test plan, as well as led user tests with hiring managers and product managers. We gave users real tasks like creating and saving benchmarks and insights led us to simplify flows, highlight important widgets, and refine saved benchmark interactions.

Notes from Tests 1-5 — blurred due to NDA restrictions

SYNTHESIZING INSIGHTS

Highlighting patterns and common behaviors

We compiled all of our observations into an Observation Chart, highlighting any patterns and common behaviors across users. This helped us to identify key areas that required further attention and prioritization. Additionally, based on our understanding of the tool and the intended user flows, we outlined the key tasks we wanted users to complete and tracked whether each was successfully accomplished in a Task Chart. This helped us identify areas where the tool may be unintuitive and highlighted opportunities to improve clarity and usability for the user.

SYNTHESIZING INSIGHTS

Highlighting patterns and common behaviors

We compiled all of our observations into an Observation Chart, highlighting any patterns and common behaviors across users. This helped us to identify key areas that required further attention and prioritization. Additionally, based on our understanding of the tool and the intended user flows, we outlined the key tasks we wanted users to complete and tracked whether each was successfully accomplished in a Task Chart. This helped us identify areas where the tool may be unintuitive and highlighted opportunities to improve clarity and usability for the user.

Observation Chart

Task Chart

FINAL SOLUTION

A streamlined, integrated benchmarking tool

The final design enables users to create benchmarks with job titles and filters, view results with clear salary insights, and revisit saved benchmarks for future decisions.

FINAL SOLUTION

A streamlined, integrated benchmarking tool

The final design enables users to create benchmarks with job titles and filters, view results with clear salary insights, and revisit saved benchmarks for future decisions.

NEXT STEPS

Preparing for integration and scalability

One of our biggest next steps was exploring how salary benchmarking could connect directly to different modules within Paycom’s existing system. As an example, I outlined how benchmarking could integrate directly within Paycom’s Position Management module, where the workflow of creating and saving benchmarks wouldn’t just live in isolation—it could seamlessly feed into role creation and salary assignments. These integrations would ensure that benchmarking doesn’t just remain a standalone tool but instead becomes a core part of how companies can plan, structure, and grow their teams.

NEXT STEPS

Preparing for integration and scalability

One of our biggest next steps was exploring how salary benchmarking could connect directly to different modules within Paycom’s existing system. As an example, I outlined how benchmarking could integrate directly within Paycom’s Position Management module, where the workflow of creating and saving benchmarks wouldn’t just live in isolation—it could seamlessly feed into role creation and salary assignments. These integrations would ensure that benchmarking doesn’t just remain a standalone tool but instead becomes a core part of how companies can plan, structure, and grow their teams.

01.

research

02.

design

03.

test

04.

reflect

KEY TAKEAWAYS

What I learned from this experience:

KEY TAKEAWAYS

What I learned from this experience:

→ Design is far from being a linear process.

I saw how valuable it was to revisit earlier steps, whether that meant digging deeper into research, refining wireframes based on feedback, or simply reworking how I communicated ideas. I learned that iteration always made the solution stronger!

→ Collaboration means meeting people where they’re at.

I learned how to adapt my communication style—whether I was aligning with stakeholders on business goals, working with developers on feasibility, or brainstorming with fellow designers. Clear, audience-aware communication made collaboration smoother and more effective!

→ Each person’s creative perspectives contribute SO much to the project’s success.

Working with a team of incredibly talented individuals with different backgrounds taught me the value of contributing unique perspectives. I was able to learn how to balance strengths across the teams, draw from others’ approaches, and better understand my own role as a collaborator!

thank you for stopping by!

made with

by faith chen

©

2025

thank you for stopping by!

made with

by faith chen

©

2025