Compensation Trends for Comp Professionals

February 25, 2026

Payscale's Compensation Best Practices Report: HR finds its footing in "The Year of Strategic Alignment"

AI skills won't get you a raise. The labor market crashed in 2025 and comp budgets are shrinking. Yet 68% of executives now view compensation as a strategic lever. Payscale's Compensation Best Practices Report reveals what's working (and what's not) in this new era of comp.

February 19, 2026

Job growth evaporated in 2025. How should HR respond?

Job growth evaporated in 2025, but the January 2026 jobs report showed unexpected strength. Should HR look to cut comp costs or gear up for hiring? In this uncertain market, guessing is dangerous game. Here's how to prepare for both scenarios.

February 2, 2026

The Legislative Lowdown: January 2026 pay transparency updates

Pay transparency laws stuck to their New Year's resolutions better than you did. The EU Pay Transparency Directive deadline looms, Virginia's HB 1164 returns, and Ontario just flipped the switch. Here's your January compliance update.

February 2, 2026

News to know: January 2026 labor market and pay legislation update

As 2026 begins, employers are navigating a labor market characterized by slower hiring and cooling wage growth, alongside a steady drumbeat of pay transparency and wage compliance changes. Below are the most important labor market signals from the latest federal releases and the key pay-related laws that took effect on January 1, 2026.

January 30, 2026

The cost of living vs wages in the US: what every employer must know in 2026

Why don't raises feel like raises? Because you're measuring the cost of labor while employees fret about the cost of living. Ten years of inflation and wage growth reveal the gap, and what HR leaders should do about it.

January 30, 2026

2026 top HR and compensation priorities and predictions from Payscale leaders

A summary of what’s in, what’s out, and what’s next from the latest Comp and Coffee episode 125 with Ruth Thomas, Chief Compensation Strategist

January 27, 2026

Total rewards statements: communicating pay the easy way (with templates and examples)

Turn that modest 2.5% pay increase into an impressive 8% total rewards hike without spending an extra penny. Total rewards statements show employees what they're actually earning, not just what hits their bank account.

January 22, 2026

We don't have a data problem. It is perception that shapes the impact of compensation decisions

Pay decisions fail less because of missing data and more because of how they are explained and felt. When organizations treat pay as emotional as well as analytical, trust grows and compensation decisions land as intended.

January 22, 2026

The cost of managing compensation without the right software

Compensation represents 70% of your budget, yet many companies manage it with spreadsheets and free online data. The hidden costs? Millions in overpayment, turnover, and legal exposure. Here's the smarter approach.

January 20, 2026

2026 Salary Increases Preview Report

As organizations move into 2026, compensation planning is less dramatic than during the height of post-pandemic volatility, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple. Employers are navigating economic uncertainty, evolving employee expectations, and a labor market that is no longer red-hot but still competitive for critical skills.

January 14, 2026

HR professionals are optimistic about AI for compensation — but CHROs have a low opinion of their team's abilities

Your CHRO thinks you can't handle AI. Meanwhile, execs ranked HR dead last in AI savviness. But 70% of HR pros want AI for compensation anyway. Time to prove your manager and leadership spectacularly wrong and make a big impact for your business.

January 9, 2026

News to know: December 2025 labor market and pay legislation update

The year 2025 has ended and employers are navigating a labor market defined by caution, moderation, and increasing regulatory complexity. While conditions remain stable overall, slower hiring, cooling wage growth, and expanding pay compliance requirements are shaping how organizations are planning for 2026.

Compensation trends: Modern perspectives on pay