Pay Classifications are the categories you use to describe what kind of work an hour of labor is — Laborer, Equipment Operator, Foreman, and so on, as well as non-productive buckets like Travel, Break, PTO, and Holiday. Each classification carries the pay-related settings (compensation rate, the GL account its cost lands in, certified-payroll codes) that drive how that time is paid and reported.
Where to find Pay Classifications
From the left sidebar choose HR & Payroll, then Pay Classifications in the section's sub-menu.
What you see on this screen
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Title | The name of the classification (e.g. Laborer, Equipment Operator, Travel, PTO). |
| WC Code | The workers'-comp / certified-payroll code for the classification. |
| Comp Rate % | The rate associated with the classification (used for burdening / certified-payroll calculations). |
| WC Accrual GL | The General Ledger account the classification's cost accrues to. |
Use Include Archived (top right) to show classifications you've retired. The list covers both productive work types (Laborer, Foreman / Crew Lead, Licensed Technician…) and the time buckets that used to live under "Time Categories" — Travel, Break, PTO, Holiday — which are now classifications too.
Adding a classification
Click Add to drop a new row into the grid, then fill it in directly in the cells. A Title is required; set the WC Code, Comp Rate, and the accrual GL account as needed. Press Enter to save the row, or Escape to cancel.
Editing, archiving, and activating
Edit a classification by clicking into its cells in the grid. To retire one you no longer use, right-click the row and choose Archive — it drops out of the active list but its history is preserved. Right-click an archived row (with Include Archived on) to Activate it again.
Archiving is preferred over deleting — classifications are referenced by historical time and payroll, so keeping them (just inactive) keeps your past records intact.
How Pay Classifications connect to the rest of the app
- Time & tasks. When crews log time, the classification describes what the hour was — and feeds how it's costed and paid.
- Pay Rates. An employee's Pay Rate can vary by classification, so a worker is paid the right rate for the work they're doing.
- Certified payroll & prevailing wage. The WC Code and rate feed certified-payroll reporting and Prevailing Wage & Union rate schedules.
- The General Ledger. The accrual GL account routes each classification's labor cost to the right place in your books.
Permissions
Viewing requires settings/HR view access; adding, editing, and archiving require the manage permission. If the page is read-only for you, ask an administrator.
Tips & best practices
- Set the GL account. Without an accrual account, the classification's labor cost has nowhere to land — set it so payroll posts cleanly.
- Keep codes consistent. WC Codes feed certified payroll; use the codes your jurisdiction expects.
- Archive, don't delete. Retire unused classifications so history stays intact.
Common questions
What happened to Time Categories? The time buckets (Travel, Break, PTO, Holiday, and so on) are now Pay Classifications — there's a single list instead of two, so a logged hour's "what kind of work" and its pay treatment live in one place.
Can the same person be paid different rates? Yes — pay can vary by classification, which is the point of having them. See Pay Rates.
I archived one by mistake — can I get it back? Turn on Include Archived, right-click the row, and choose Activate.
Related topics
- Pay Rates — what each employee earns, optionally by classification.
- Prevailing Wage & Union — rate schedules that build on classifications.
- Tax Jurisdictions — where the work's taxes apply.