Employees may be surprised to learn that their job performance is not the only deciding factor in determining their salary. In fact, the job performance is not even the main deciding factor of your monthly pay. Here are six factors that decide the sum of your pay check.

In this time of recession and multiple layoffs, many feel happy to just have a job. However, as a recent report notes, there are some "secrets" that company don't want you to know about salaries in your field; the report includes a link to a free salary report, as well.

A $33 million settlement between the Bank of America and the Securities and Exchange Commission over bonuses paid to Merrill Lynch executives was rejected Monday morning by a Federal District judge. The bonuses were paid right before Bank of America took over Merrill Lynch last year.

The U.S. private sector cut 298,000 jobs in August. This is less than in previous months. The information is from ADP Employer Services report released today. The analysts were expecting 290,000.

Recent survey shows that nearly 65 percent of respondents are willing to accept pay cuts to stay on their jobs. However, they admit that it is not sustainable in the long as the lower pay is not enough to pay the bills. However, they do so as the layoffs amount around the country.

Are TV celebrities paid too much?

The increase of the U.S. Federal minimum wage will allow millions of workers across 30 states to see more money in their paychecks. Minimum wage will become $7.25 per hour and will go into effect on July 24 of 2009.

In an information released on February 21 IRS reported that most workers will see bigger paychecks this spring. It is because the Making Work Pay Tax Credit is taking effect on April 1 of 2009. For most taxpayers, the additional credit will automatically start showing up in their paychecks this spring.

The U.S. retail discount giant Wal-Mart said that it will share close to a one billion dollar bonus with its hourly employees.

What would it be like if social workers, firefighters, and teachers earned multimillion dollar salaries--and pro athletes didn't? In this sharp satire, award-winning journalist Walter Brasch imagines just a possibility.