Market rate means something to employers - it's the rate they need to pay you more than, if they don't want you to have lots of better options for where to work

Market rate means something to employers - it's the rate they need to pay you more than, if they don't want you to have lots of better options for where to work. If you don't have lots of better options for where to work, you're more likely to stick around, and less distracted while you're doing so.