How to Find and Add a Comparator
Holly automatically identifies similar classifications, which you can then customize with your own selections to build a targeted comparison set.
In the Market or Internals tab of a class spec, scroll down to see Configure market benchmarks.
Search for comparators using the "Explore additional comparisons" search box.
Search by job title, keywords, duties, skills, jurisdiction, or classification codes.
For tips on searching effectively in Holly, see Searching for Specifications in Holly.
Review the results that appear below the search box, and select the comparators you want.
Holly pre-suggests similar results when you click into the search box.
Comparators already included in your comparison set appear pre-checked.
You can select multiple comparators at once to add them in bulk.
Click "Add to compare" to include your selections in your analysis.
After a short loading period, your selected comparators appear in your main comparison table.
Manually added comparators are labeled as such after the class title.
Note: This process adds comparators from jurisdictions already in your account. If you need data from a jurisdiction that isn't in Holly yet, see How to Add a Comparator Agency.
How to Remove a Comparator
Removing a comparator takes it out of your current comparison set entirely. The classification itself stays in Holly's database and can be added back to this or any other analysis later.
Click the three dots to the right of the comparator's max salary.
Click Remove comparison in the panel that drops down.
Click Yes, remove to confirm. The comparator is removed from your current comparison list.
Consider removing a comparator when:
It was added for testing or experimenting with the tool.
Its match percentage is far lower than expected and it isn't an appropriate match.
It doesn't contribute to the discussion or decision you're making.
It's creating clutter or distraction from your main analysis.
You can always add a removed comparator back later (see above) if your analysis needs to change.
How to Toggle Comparators On and Off (Market Tab Only)
For external comparisons on the Market tab, you can toggle comparators on or off to control whether they count toward your analysis, without removing them from view.
What toggling does:
Toggle ON — The comparator is included in salary calculations and as benchmark context.
Toggle OFF — The comparator stays visible for reference but is excluded from salary calculations and benchmark context.
Consider toggling a comparator off when:
The jurisdiction has unusual salary structures that skew market data.
The classification has unique requirements that make it less comparable.
You want to keep the comparison visible for context, but not count it in your formal analysis.
Stakeholders have questioned the relevance of a particular match.
Example: You're analyzing Police Sergeant positions. One comparator jurisdiction pays significantly higher due to a unique local cost-of-living adjustment. Toggle it off to exclude it from your market statistics, while keeping it visible to show stakeholders you considered it.
Remove vs. Toggle: How They Work
Both actions let you exclude a comparator from your analysis, but they behave differently:
Action | What happens | When to use it |
Remove | Takes the comparator out of your list completely | The classification isn't relevant to your analysis at all |
Toggle off (Market tab only) | Keeps the comparator visible but excludes it from statistics | You want to document that you considered it, without it affecting your numbers |
Toggling gives you transparency (stakeholders can see you considered a comparator) while protecting your data quality (it doesn't skew your numbers). Remove and toggle-off can feel similar in practice, and we know that overlap is confusing — the distinction between the two is actively being reviewed on our end, so expect this area to get clearer over time.
For a broader overview of how the Market tab and comparison basket work, see How Benchmarking Works in Holly.