Employee Compensation

Welcome to your one-stop shop for information on employee compensation! Always up to date! Bookmark this page and return frequently.

Salary Budget Survey
Participation Closes April 16

You are invited to participate in the 2025-2026 Salary Budget Survey.


Survey participants receive a comprehensive Executive Report and Analysis with global insights, and free access to the Online Reporting Tool to customize your U.S. and Canada report and compare salary budgets against other organizations by industry, revenue, organization size and/or geography ($1,267 retail value).

Employee Compensation | WorldatWork
Latest News (386)
Workspan Daily News Bytes for April 11, 2025
Workspan Daily News Bytes for April 11, 2025

Employee confidence up, HSA growth, global M&A data, a “career passports” plan and Netherlands’ pay transparency draft. It’s all in this week’s News Bytes.

Quid Pro RTO: Will Raises to Return Be All the Rage?
Quid Pro RTO: Will Raises to Return Be All the Rage?

While cash bonuses for returning workers generate buzz, office culture and long-term objectives remain key.

Biopharma Compensation Leader Has Put AI Under the Microscope
Biopharma Compensation Leader Has Put AI Under the Microscope

In advance of her Total Rewards ’25 featured session, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Joan Gliboff outlined how AI is transforming the profession.

Federal News Roundup for April 9, 2025
Federal News Roundup for April 9, 2025

Justice Roberts weighs in on agency firings, EEOC chair renominated, a crypto 401(k) bill, DOL shares SECURE 2.0 guidance and fiduciary rule targeted.

Workspan Daily News Bytes for April 4, 2025
Workspan Daily News Bytes for April 4, 2025

A solid March jobs report, Target cuts bonuses, universities end DEI programs and LGBTQ+ workplace challenges. It’s all in this week’s News Bytes.

Federal News Roundup for April 3, 2025
Federal News Roundup for April 3, 2025

DOL leaders picked, collective bargaining targeted, layoffs hit health agencies, an ADA clarification and some NLRB power upheld.

Feature Articles (139)
Navigating the Wild World of IT Skills Pay
Navigating the Wild World of IT Skills Pay

IT skills pay volatility is at a 13-year high and the pay gap between certified and non-certified IT skills is the widest in history.

Why It’s Time for a Compensation Philosophy Refresh
Why It’s Time for a Compensation Philosophy Refresh

Cookie-cutter compensation philosophies are on the way out. Here’s why and how they are evolving.

UK Tops EU Nations in Pay Transparency Action
UK Tops EU Nations in Pay Transparency Action

Stay informed on EU pay transparency action, India’s TR transformation, Thailand’s employee welfare fund and Germany’s overtime law.

How to Reconcile Internal Pay Equity and External Competitiveness
How to Reconcile Internal Pay Equity and External Competitiveness

Using variable control points to set pay rates can help organizations both stay competitive in the market and maintain internal equity.

Avoiding Bonus Backfires
Avoiding Bonus Backfires

Bonus plans can unintentionally backfire, research shows, undermining the aim and value of organizations’ well-meaning incentives.

India’s Pay Premiums for Digital Talent Will Cool in 2025
India’s Pay Premiums for Digital Talent Will Cool in 2025

India’s pay differentials, France’s profit-share mandate, Britain’s high job stress and Canada’s remote work savings top our global roundup.

Webinars (33)
From Transparency to Trust: Elevating Pay Communications
From Transparency to Trust: Elevating Pay Communications
Virtual (Live) on 2025-04-29
Aligning Job Architecture and Market Data for Compensation Success
Aligning Job Architecture and Market Data for Compensation Success
Virtual (Live) on 2025-05-07
How Global Giants Align HR & Comp to Scale, Retain and Win
How Global Giants Align HR & Comp to Scale, Retain and Win
Virtual (Live) on 2025-05-14
Turn Your Compensation Spreadsheets Into a Secure, Multi-User Business App
Turn Your Compensation Spreadsheets Into a Secure, Multi-User Business App
On Demand
Reimagining Total Rewards – A Personalized and Dynamic Experience
Reimagining Total Rewards – A Personalized and Dynamic Experience
On Demand
Pay Equity vs. Pay Gap Reporting: Reconciling Compensation and Payroll Data
Pay Equity vs. Pay Gap Reporting: Reconciling Compensation and Payroll Data
On Demand
Courses (44)
Featured
Course
Essentials of Compensation Management
Get the fundamental knowledge you need to positively impact the employee experience and your organization’s bottom line. This foundational course introduces learners to the specialized area of compensation, focusing on how organizations align pay philosophy to organizational objectives. Find out how a well-designed compensation program attracts, retains, and motivates employees, how to use common KPIs to evaluate a plan’s effectiveness, the value of good communication, and how to do it successfully.What You Will Learn:Understand the basics of compensation philosophy, business alignment, employee impact, and design.Know how job analysis, documentation, and evaluation are used to build a pay structure.Discover how to assess internal pay equity, market competitiveness, and overall compensation plan effectiveness.Learn how to effectively communicate compensation programs to a variety of audiences.Recognize how elements of compensation plans relate to compensation program objectivesAdditional InformationThis essentials course is ideal for HR Generalists and other HR professionals wanting to understand compensation, including strategy, design, and impactful communications.Participants are not required to have prior experience with or knowledge of compensation design strategy or planning.Based in India? Contact india@worldatwork.org for India-special course pricing.PoliciesView our Return/Cancellation policies and more here.
Employee Compensation | WorldatWork
Course
Compensation Immersion Program Gain a fast, solid foundation in compensation concepts and best practices and start tackling employee compensation challenges with confidence.
Starting at: Members: $3,145.00 USD Non-Members: $4,493.00 USD
Course
Executive Compensation Immersion Program Gain a fast, solid foundation in executive compensation concepts and best practices and tackle complex tasks with confidence.
Starting at: Members: $9,995.00 USD Non-Members: $14,279.00 USD
Course
Global Compensation Immersion Program Gain a fast, solid foundation in global compensation concepts and best practices and start tackling global compensation tasks with confidence.
Starting at: Members: $2,995.00 USD Non-Members: $4,279.00 USD
Course
Advanced Excel Skills for Compensation Professionals Learn to use Excel dashboards, formulas and macros to efficiently analyze complex compensation data.
Starting at: Members: $1,350.00 USD Non-Members: $1,753.00 USD
Events (2)
Total Rewards 25 the prime total rewards conference from WorldatWork
May 19 - 21, 2025Orlando, FL
Total Rewards '25


A fully immersive experience designed to make a difference: in your career, your organization, and ultimately people’s lives. With fresh formats and curated networking focused on meaningful connection, it’s a powerful, personalized journey that will provide the right solutions, right now—all in a fun, festival-like atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.

Employee Compensation | WorldatWork
September 9 - 10, 2025Toronto, ON
Total Rewards Canada
Research (22)
Research
Bonus Programs & Practices

See the impact of bonus programs and practices at privately-held and publicly-traded companies, non-profit organizations and government entities.

Research
Mini-study: Navigating the Living Wage Journey

140 employers talked to use about the complexities, strategies and challenges of implementing living wages. 

Research
2024-2025 Salary Budget Survey

Offering robust, year-over-year data, this survey will help you design competitive compensation plans that attract and retain high-performing employees. Use the included Online Reporting Tool to build customized reports based on industry and geographic area (U.S. and Canada). This year’s survey includes base salary increases and merit budgets for 22 countries including in-depth salary budget insights in the United States (U.S.), Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. 

Tools (14)
Compensation: KPIs and Business Formulas

A list of Compensation-specific formulas.

FLSA Implementation Toolkit

U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act templates and resources.

Glossary of Key Rewards and HR Terms

Reliable definitions for key Total Rewards, Compensation and HR terms.

Pay Equity Laws by State — Are You in Compliance?

Pay equity resources and summary of protections.

Certifications (2)
Certification
Certified Compensation Professional (CCP®)The Professional Standard for Compensation ExcellenceNew & Improved – Fewer exams, Faster Completion, Lower Overall Price  The Preferred Compensation Credential by Over 90% of Hiring Managers Up to 3x Higher Pay Boost vs Other Leading HR Credentials The CCP certification is the professional standard for compensation excellence. Offered since 1976, it is the premier qualification for compensation, HR and Total Rewards professionals who want to specialize in employee compensation design and management. Earn your CCP and you will acquire the foundational knowledge and proficiency needed to develop and integrate strategic compensation programs tailored to your organization. The stakes for getting compensation wrong are staggering - labor costs (Compensation & Rewards) can account for as much as 70% of total business costs. Learning to manage that investment strategically elevates you in a crowded field to a compensation leader, one with advanced skills and knowledge that are vital to achieving your organization’s objectives. Getting your CCP certification opens the door to advancement including new career paths in sales compensation, executive compensation, Total Rewards management and HR leadership.
Certification
Global Remuneration Professional (GRP®)A globally recognized certification for over 35 years, the GRP designation positions you for success in developing and integrating compensation programs tailored for multi-national organizations. Earning the GRP showcases your commitment to upholding the highest standards in compensation management. Armed with the GRP designation, you will be primed to strategically implement effective multinational solutions to today's complex business challenges. This certification ensures alignment with and support for your organizational objectives, enhancing retention and contributing to the overall success of your organization. With newly updated content and the consolidation of courses from 10 to 9, the GRP certification is better than ever!  
Books (2)
Employee Compensation | WorldatWork
Book
Dianne Auld's Excel Tips, Third Edition

Master hidden Excel strategies to analyze compensation and benefits data more quickly and efficiently with the third edition of this book.

Handbook of Total Rewards published by WorldatWork, the total rewards association
Book
The WorldatWork Handbook of Total Rewards

Sharpen your knowledge and skills for handling the new evolving world of total rewards.

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