I'm sorry CJ. I know this feeling. I keep getting denied promotions because they move me from department to department. I can't stay in one place long enough to master the skill set that is required for a promotion. Definitely feeling like I'm staying in entry level forever.
For us, we give our selves a rating, then our boss rates us and we get our end of year review. The boss puts the rating in the Bonus system and then it goes on to the next level where it can be adjusted up or down but they have to include reasons with their adjustment.
So if the bonus standard is 10% of salary and you rated a 9 or 10 you get 10% but if you rated a 2, you get nothing, 3-4 is 5% etc.
I got the next to best rating possible which I think is called excellent. The only other was is never given out. The company sets an amount into a pool so anyone with a solid or above qualifies. I guess the pool was set low.
Ours can also be impacted on how high an individual's salary is compared to colleagues, so if it's possible you make notably more than your peers, that could impact too?