Compensation Trends for Comp Professionals

Breaking your own rules (the right way): managing exceptions during pay increases cycles

Exceptions are inevitable during annual pay cycles. Learn how to identify common exception scenarios, document decisions systematically, and spot patterns that signal deeper compensation problems requiring structural fixes.

Pay compression: definition, causes, and solutions for HR leaders

You see pay compression happen when starting salaries for new employees in a particular job title are set too close to the wages of your existing workers. In really awful circumstances, the starting salaries exceed what your current employees are earning, even if your tenured employees have more skills and experience.

How AI is reshaping your workforce

Early-career hiring in AI-exposed roles has dropped sharply since ChatGPT's launch. As AI eliminates entry-level work, HR leaders must rethink compensation, upskill existing talent, and use real-time data to stay competitive

How HR learned to love the bottom line

Leadership doesn't fund "compensation strategies." They back compensation decisions that help them meet revenue targets. If you can't connect pay to revenue, gross margins, and ROI, you'll lose every budget battle.

AI skills are in demand, and employers are paying big bucks for them

AI skills are commanding higher salaries across many industries. From technology to manufacturing, employers are paying steep premiums for AI-fluent talent. Do you know how to price AI positions?

Euro Vision: getting ready for the EU Pay Transparency Directive

The EU Pay Transparency Directive is fast approaching. Don't wait for the final rule. Start cleaning your data, conduct a pay equity analysis, and make a budget for remediation now.

The 2026 Compensation Best Practices Survey is now open for participation

The 2026 edition promises fresh and diverse insights, as we gather survey responses from HR leaders, compensation professionals, and anyone overseeing compensation within organizations.

The legislative lowdown: September 2025

Read about the latest in pay transparency from Massachusetts to Malta in our monthly legislative lowdown.

Getting the most out of your job descriptions

Job descriptions are more than just busy work. They're the cornerstone of your entire comp strategy. Discover how one of Payscale's customers uses AI and our Job Description Manager to break through job description chaos and get results.

Your pay communications playbook

Compensation isn't about the money. It's really about the exchange of value between employers and employees. Successful pay communications recognizes what every employee considers their most significant contribution to your organization.

Compensation strategies for a sputtering job market

With a cooling labor market, it's tempting to cut back on wages. But without a compensation strategy that accounts for budgetary realities while making meaningful pay increases, organizations may find themselves in a bind.

Does pay-for-performance actually pay off?

Performance reviews can be biased, while budget constraints often turn differentiated pay increases into a meaningless gesture. It's time to rethink the relationship between performance and base pay progression.

Compensation trends: Modern perspectives on pay

Find what you need to know now