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Compensation Associate Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Marriott

Manager, Compensation Consulting

Bethesda, MD · On-site

... associates. * Proven ability to independently identify and analyze problems/issues, assess risk ... Provides on-going and timely compensation consulting expertise regarding management and non ...

RSM

Tax Senior Associate - Compensation & Benefits

Mclean, VA · On-site

$82K - $102K/yr

As a Senior Associate on our Compensation and Benefits Tax Advisory team, you'll have the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients - global and domestic, public and private - on some of their ...

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Compensation Associate information

See Reston, VA salary details

$48.4K

$62K

$73.3K

How much do compensation associate jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for compensation associate in Reston, VA is $61,975.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,700.00 and $67,100.00 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, and why are they important?

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 Reston, VA? The most popular types of Compensation jobs in Reston, VA are:
What job categories do people searching Compensation Associate jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Compensation Associate jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Compensation Associate jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Compensation Associate job openings:
Compensation Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Compensation Associate job openings in Reston, VA as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 23% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,975 per year, or $29.8 per hour.
Manager, Compensation Consulting

Manager, Compensation Consulting

Marriott

Bethesda, MD • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

Marriott International rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 1,129 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

50th of 105 rated hotels

Job description

JOB SUMMARY 

 As an integral member of the Global Compensation team, the Manager, Compensation position provides consulting and analytical support of global compensation activities related to job evaluation, salary analysis and pay equity, incentive plan design and administration, and project execution. Position will execute moderate to complex project tasks in accordance with developed project plans. This position will support Marriott's compensation philosophy and programs to ensure internal equity, external competitiveness, strong programmatic governance and compliance with applicable regulations and policies. 

CANDIDATE PROFILE  

Education and Experience  

  • Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Human Resources or a related professional area, from an accredited university; 4 + years of progressive compensation analysis, incentive design and compensation administration experience including compliance with relevant state and federal laws. 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills required. 
  • Demonstrated experience interacting effectively as a team member/consultant with all levels of associates. 
  • Proven ability to independently identify and analyze problems/issues, assess risk, evaluate alternative potential solutions and recommend a course of action. 
  • Ability to perform independently under limited supervision. 
  • Strong MS Office skills including Word, Excel and PowerPoint are required. 
  • Oracle HCM and Incentive Compensation is preferred. 
  • Salary Survey experience is preferred. 

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES  

Managing Work, Projects, and Policies  

  • Provides on-going and timely compensation consulting expertise regarding management and non-management compensation related tasks in working with designated clients (disciplines, geographies, businesses). This includes job leveling, Exempt/Non-Exempt FLSA testing, salary analysis, survey participation, incentive design, project participation and aiding business partners in making informed compensation decisions in compliance with corporate policies and procedures and applicable Federal, State and Local laws.  
  • Researches, compiles and analyzes market data, salary surveys, compensation trends and relevant internal data to effectively make recommendations for customer groups to support informed, data driven compensation decisions. Independently builds data models and spreadsheets to support decisions related to the effectiveness, accuracy, and efficiency of compensation programs including providing alternatives to consider and recommendations for action. 
  • Conducts job evaluations using market data and internal leveling practices as needed for new and revised positions. Tracks and maintains survey matches and final leveling in an internal tracking system. 
  • Participates in a variety of assigned compensation projects through the development and implementation process. Manages the attainment of milestones of the project plans by working and coordinating with team members and key stakeholders. Partners with manager to analyze, solution, and resolve complex project issues. 
  • Participates as needed in efforts related to the design of incentives plans to support the compensation team. This includes incentive plan and supporting resource creation, plan posting and related job code maintenance. Responsibilities include interfacing with our HR vendor for plan document creation, systems requirements and support for incentive cycle execution. 
  • Participate in quarterly and annual bonus process for the assigned disciplines to ensure bonuses are processed timely and accurately.  Provides the Compensation Operations team support in fielding questions and determining appropriateness of adjustments and exceptions throughout the cycles for assigned disciplines. 
  • Identifies issues which may evolve to be broader projects, such as those with an enterprise-wide scope. Partners with manager to analyze, solution and resolve complex issues. 
  • Prepares recommendations/options and presents to manager for support and direction. 
  • Works on cross-functional teams with members from a variety of disciplines including Human Resource, Legal, Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Data Management, etc. 
  • Reporting and Analytics and Finance to solve business and process issues in an effective and timely manner. 
  • Responsible for own work and assists in contributing to team, department and/or business results.  

At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated.Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law. 

All positions offer a 401(k) plan, stock purchase plan, discounts at Marriott properties, commuter benefits, employee assistance plan, and childcare discounts.  Benefits are subject to terms and conditions, which may include rules regarding eligibility, enrollment, waiting period, contribution, benefit limits, election changes, benefit exclusions, and others. Click here to learn more.

Full-time positions also offer coverage for medical, dental, vision, health care flexible spending account, dependent care flexible spending account, life insurance, disability insurance, accident insurance, adoption expense reimbursements, paid parental leave and educational assistance. 

Washington Applicants Only: Employees will accrue paid sick leave, 0.077 PTO balance for every hour worked and be eligible to receive a minimum of 9 holidays annually.

Marriott HQ is committed to a hybrid work environment that enables associates to Be connected.  Headquarters-based positions are considered hybrid, for candidates within a commuting distance to Bethesda, MD; candidates outside of commuting distance to Bethesda, MD will be considered for Remote positions.
Marriott International is the world's largest hotel company, with more brands, more hotels and more opportunities for associates to grow and succeed. Be where you can do your best work, begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global team, and become the best version of you.

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