Compensation Trends for Comp Professionals

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

California's new pay equity law (SB 642): What employers need to know for 2026

California's SB 642 takes effect January 1, 2026, tightening pay transparency rules and expanding equal pay protections. What do those in the Golden State need to know?

FLSA exemption rules 2026: What changed on January 1st and what HR needs to know

January 1st wasn't just New Year's Day — it was the day six states raised FLSA salary thresholds. Miss the memo? Your exempt employees might now be overtime-eligible.

The state of the tech job market 2025

The hottest jobs in tech aren't vibe coders or FAANG software developers. While AI Engineers receive the media headlines, Payscale brings you the tech jobs with the highest and lowest salary growth in 2025.

What is stagflation lite and how should HR prepare?

Economists predict "stagflation lite" will grip the economy in 2026. Slow growth meet persistent inflation. HR faces a daunting challenge: raise wages too much, costs spiral. Too little, top talent walks. Here's how HR can strategically navigate this squeeze.

Compensation trends: Modern perspectives on pay

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