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Compensation Associate Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Financial Planner

Mclean, VA · On-site

$76K - $103K/yr

Active designation(s) as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Enrolled Agent (EA), Equity Compensation Associate (ECA) or similar ...

Active designation(s) as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Enrolled Agent (EA), Equity Compensation Associate (ECA) or similar ...

Associate Dentist

Culpeper, VA · On-site

$100K - $250K/yr

You'll begin with base pay as you establish your patient base, then transition to a 30-35% collections-based compensation model, offering strong earning potential. Title Associate Dentist What You'll ...

Showing results 21-40

Compensation Associate information

See Virginia salary details

$46.1K

$59.1K

$69.9K

How much do compensation associate jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for compensation associate in Virginia is $59,060.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,000.00 and $63,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Compensation Associate vs Payroll Specialist?

AspectCompensation AssociatePayroll Specialist
Required CredentialsTypically a bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related field; certifications like CCP are a plusOften a degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business; certifications like CPP or payroll-specific certifications
Work EnvironmentHR or Compensation departments within organizations, focusing on pay structures and benefitsFinance or HR departments, handling payroll processing and compliance
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across various industries in HR teams to manage compensation dataCommon in organizations with in-house payroll processing or payroll service providers

The Compensation Associate primarily focuses on designing and managing employee pay structures, benefits, and compensation data. In contrast, the Payroll Specialist handles the processing of employee wages, tax deductions, and compliance with payroll regulations. While both roles require knowledge of compensation and HR policies, the Compensation Associate emphasizes strategy and data management, whereas the Payroll Specialist concentrates on accurate payroll execution and reporting.

What are some common challenges compensation associates face when analyzing salary data across different departments?

Compensation Associates often encounter challenges such as inconsistent job titles, varying responsibilities across departments, and discrepancies in market data when analyzing salary information. Navigating these differences requires strong analytical skills and close collaboration with HR partners and department managers to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness. Staying updated with industry benchmarks and using standardized job evaluation methods can help address these issues and support fair compensation decisions.

What does a compensation associate do?

A Compensation Associate is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and administration of an organization's compensation programs. They analyze salary data, benchmark roles against industry standards, assist with salary reviews, and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Their work helps ensure that employees are paid fairly and competitively, which can improve employee satisfaction and retention. Compensation Associates often collaborate with HR, finance, and management teams to align pay structures with company goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a compensation associate?

To thrive as a Compensation Associate, you need a solid understanding of compensation principles, data analysis, and human resources practices, usually backed by a relevant bachelor's degree. Familiarity with HR information systems (HRIS), advanced Excel skills, and compensation management tools like PayScale or Workday is often required. Strong attention to detail, discretion, and effective communication help you excel in handling sensitive data and collaborating across teams. These skills are crucial to ensure accurate compensation analysis, compliance, and fair pay practices within an organization.

What are the most commonly searched types of Compensation jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Compensation jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Compensation Associate jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Compensation Associate job openings:

Infographic showing various Compensation Associate job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,060 per year, or $28.4 per hour.

Senior Compensation Specialist

Sentara Healthcare

Norfolk, VA • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago


Sentara Health rating

6.7

Company rating: 6.7 out of 10

Based on 412 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

530th of 887 rated healthcare providers


Job description

City/State
Norfolk, VA
Work Shift
First (Days)
Overview:
The Senior Compensation Specialist serves as a strategic and consultative partner to HR and business leadership, responsible for delivering advanced compensation analysis and guidance across the organization. This role plays a critical part in ensuring compensation programs are market competitive, internally equitable, and aligned with organizational strategy, workforce needs, and financial objectives.
Operating with a high degree of independence, the Senior Compensation Specialist leads complex market analyses, job evaluations, and organizational pay reviews, providing expert recommendations on compensation strategy, job structure, and pay decisions. This position partners closely with Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partners, and leadership to support hiring strategies, workforce planning, and retention initiatives.
The role also supports annual compensation processes through rigorous data validation, auditing, and insight generation, ensuring accurate and effective program outcomes. The Senior Specialist translates complex data into clear, actionable guidance and contributes to continuous improvement of compensation practices, tools, and governance frameworks.
Education
Preferred:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Analytics, or related field

Certification/Licensure
Preferred:
  • Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)

Experience
  • Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in compensation, including market pricing, job evaluation, and internal equity analysis

  • Demonstrated experience supporting Talent Acquisition with complex offer strategy and negotiations

  • Proven ability to interpret compensation philosophy, policies, and governance frameworks in complex situations

  • Experience developing data-driven insights and recommendations for HR and business partners

  • Advanced Excel skills, including modeling, scenario analysis, and large dataset manipulation

  • Experience working with HRIS and compensation planning tools (Workday & MarketPay preferred)

Benefits: Caring For Your Family and Your Career
Medical, Dental, Vision plans
• Adoption, Fertility and Surrogacy Reimbursement up to 10,000
• Paid Time Off and Sick Leave
• Paid Parental & Family Caregiver Leave
• Emergency Backup Care
• Long-Term, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness plans
• Life Insurance
• 401k/403B with Employer Match
• Tuition Assistance - 5,250/year and discounted educational opportunities through Guild Education
• Student Debt Pay Down - 10,000
• Reimbursement for certifications and free access to complete CEUs and professional development
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Resources Plan
• Colleagues have the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus if established system and employee eligibility criteria is met.
Sentara Health is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on the diversity and inclusiveness of its close to an almost 30,000-member workforce. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging is a guiding principle of the organization to ensure its workforce reflects the communities it serves.
In support of our mission "to improve health every day," this is a tobacco-free environment.
For positions that are available as remote work, Sentara Health employs associates in the following states:
Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

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