Is there a quicker way? Calculations Based on Drop Downs.

[navxls]

Hi I am currently working on creating a model and I am running into some issues.

My current method is very time consuming, and when complete will use too many columns and if statements.

I want to build a model that calculates the cost of paying raises to certain employees based on a drop down.

[TABLE="width: 291"]
<colgroup><col><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody>[TR]
[TD][TABLE="width: 291"]
<colgroup><col><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody>[TR]
[TD]SalaryClass[/TD]
[TD]Hours[/TD]
[TD]Hourly Wage[/TD]
[TD]Location[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]E[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]7.5[/TD]
[TD]NYC[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]E[/TD]
[TD]30[/TD]
[TD]7.75[/TD]
[TD]PIT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]E[/TD]
[TD]40[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]PHL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SL[/TD]
[TD]25[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]MIA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SL[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]PIT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SL[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]NYC[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]G[/TD]
[TD]40[/TD]
[TD]30[/TD]
[TD]MIA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]G[/TD]
[TD]40[/TD]
[TD]40[/TD]
[TD]PHL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]G[/TD]
[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]NYC[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

This is how most of my data looks.

I want to create multiple drop downs to see the cost of increasing certian wages.

My issues here are that every time I want to create a trickle down effect I have to recalculate with a new column. I have about 4 trickle downs with 3 options each which leads to about 81 different columns I would have to create just for one year.

To give you an example say the New Minimum Wage is 8.50

The Model says the cost of increasing minimum wage to 8.50 is X. The maximum wage increase was 1 dollar ? Do you want to increase everyone who didn't get the increase by 1 dollar --> Yes, No, Increase by X% instead.

----> List New Cost.

Do you want to increase the wage in SL wage class. Yes by the wage increase, no, Increase by X% instead.

---> List New Cost


Currently I am using If statements to calculate things in a new column. Then using vlookup to return values based on the items selected in the drop down list. I feel there might be a more efficient way of doing this using fewer columns.