Tracking current salary trends can be difficult for an HR professional who already has a full plate of duties. HR often turns to salary consultants who select the best competitive matches and maintain databases of competitive statistics. If you must conduct benchmarking on your own, consider these approaches. If your business hasn't matured into its vision, choose competitors you want to emulate. Look for companies in the same industry with processes you want to echo. Or look at benefits programs in locales with an active job market.