A wage and fringe benefits comparability survey is an analysis of an employee compensation system in comparison to similar organizations that offer similar services and demographics. To establish and maintain high-quality program operations and services, Head Start and Early Head Start programs must attract and retain qualified personnel. Employee compensation is an important component of any program’s ability to maintain a skilled and motivated workforce. This guide assists programs to: • Understand federal regulations related to employee compensation • Define what to consider before conducting a wage and fringe benefits comparability survey • Measure current data associated with prevailing wages and benefits within the service area against current program wages and benefits • Analyze the impact of the current wage structure against program staff recruitment, retention, and quality of service • Improve efforts to attract and retain qualified program staff • Develop and implement a process to measure the impact of wage and benefit on overall program quality (author abstract)