Section 45-49-120.10 - Pay plan(a) After consultation with appointing authorities, or other officers, or both, the director shall prepare and recommend to the board a pay plan for all employees in the classified service. The pay plan shall include, for each class of positions, a minimum and a maximum rate not inconsistent with the rate or rates as may otherwise in specific instances be fixed by law. In establishing the rates, the director shall give consideration to the experience in recruiting for positions in the classified service, the prevailing rates of pay for the services performed, and for comparable services in public and private employment, living costs, maintenance or other benefits received by employees, and the county's and cities' financial condition and policies. The pay plan shall take effect when approved by the board. Amendments thereto may be made from time to time in the same manner or upon motion of the board, or both.(b) The budgeting authority for each appointing authority may establish pay ranges, salary steps, and number of steps for any given class provided that parity is continued for public safety employees and that the ranges, salary steps, and number of steps are not less than those established by the personnel board. (1) Each appointing authority shall determine the rate to be paid initially for each entry level employee. Each employee shall be paid initially at the minimum rate set forth in the pay plan for the class of positions in which the employee is employed. However, for professional and technical classes of positions, other than public safety officers, at the discretion of the appointing authority the employee may be paid at a rate up to but not in excess of the midrange of the pay plan established for the professional and technical position. The subsequent raising or lowering of the pay of an individual within the maximum and minimum rate shall be done upon the request of the appointing authority with a similar recommendation by the director, and the approval of the governing body.(2) Upon a regular employee being promoted to a higher position, the employee shall receive not less than two steps, nor more than the maximum rate established by the class, at the discretion of the appointing authority. Notwithstanding the above, upon a regular employee being promoted to a higher position within the City of Mobile Fire Department, the employee shall receive two steps.Ala. Code § 45-49-120.10 (1975)