At Beth Israel Hospital we use the NIH PGY levels as a base of decision
for our trainees salary.  In most cases, this is the minimum.  Some
divisions/departments supplement this minimum.  In regards to the
technical support personnel in research, we are quite concerned about our
minimum/maximum salary ranges.  In Boston we are not only faced with our
neighbors competition (Longwood Medical Area = Brigham and Women's
Hospital, Harvard, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Children's Hospital,
etc. within one square mile) we are faced with competing with industry.
Industry is our worst competitor as their salaries are quite attractive
as well as benefit packages.  The draw we have on this is that if the
technicians are going on to medical school, they have the ability to get
a letter of recommendation from the investigator that could enhances their
application.  I have a job matrix for technical staff if you are
interested in reviewing what a hospital based research environment is
doing.  Let me know if I can share this with you.