The survey is published twice a year in May and November and measures remuneration practices for a wide range of specialist and general employees in Local Authorities. Over 150 jobs are covered, ranging from lower level positions, for example Plant Operator, through to Chief Executive Officer (see Positions Surveyed).

It is the largest survey for the industry in Australia. It includes Councils whose constituencies cover in total one-quarter of the Australian population, have a total of over 25,000 full-time equivalent employees, and whose annual operating budgets total over $3,000 million.

All positions surveyed are matched to job descriptions and are job evaluated. Accordingly, the analysis provided is on a job description match, and a job evaluated basis. Where sample sizes permit, salary comparisons are also given by State, and by Council size as measured by annual operating expenditure.

For jobs that are common to all industries, for example those in Finance, Administration, Human Resources, Information Services, Engineering, etc, the NRC's all-industries database is used to provide additional salary comparisons with the general Australian market.

Participants in the survey provide data via the password protected section of this website (see Data Management).

Participation in the survey can be at differing levels, depending on a Council's information needs. (see Subscription.) Participants that take part on a job-evaluated basis have access to the the on-line job evaluation system (see Jobscore).

All participants receive a comprehensive salary package analysis, relative to the market, for each job for which they provide data. This this analysis is provided six monthly, in May and November (see Contributor Report).

A comprehensive report covering all jobs surveyed, together with salary movements and forecasts is also published on-line via the internet six monthly in May and November (see Survey Reports). In addition to this Report, which covers Councils nation-wide, Reports specific to Councils in New South Wales and Victoria are produced.