For the past 10 years the Washington state colleges and universities have used salary surveys of faculty in institutions in seven states as the basis for their salary requests. This report reviews the comparison of states and institutions; the criteria for their selection; whether circumstances have changed that could affect the utility or validity of these institutions for comparison purposes; and undertakes to determine whether such comparisons serve a useful purpose. Emphasis is placed on the basis for selection of the states and institutions, the marketplace and salary levels, institutional quality and comprehensiveness, and income analysis. Statistical data concerning income per state are included. (MJM)