The preliminary results of a compensation study indicate Smithfield’s entry-level positions pay 8.5% below the public sector minimum for the region.

The study also has the town at 11.9% below the regional average for mid-level salaries and 14.1% below market for maximum salaries.

The town had contracted with Evergreen Solutions last year to perform the study. Since October, Evergreen has been evaluating the salaries of the town’s 77 employees compared to similar positions in 15 regional municipalities, among them the cities of Suffolk and Virginia Beach, Isle of Wight County and the town of Windsor.

According to Stasey Whichel, the town’s Evergreen consultant, the study factored in the localities’ difference in population, size of governments and costs of living. Whichel presented her findings at the Smithfield Town Council’s March 28 committee meetings.

“We account for that in the formulas,” she said.

Not all of the town’s positions were below market. Smithfield’s pay for a “parks coordinator” is roughly 8% above similar positions in the studied localities. The data presented focused solely on salaries, not benefits.

Evergreen has yet to make any formal recommendations to the town regarding increasing pay.