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Compensation Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Athenahealth

Sales Compensation Associate

Austin, TX · On-site

$59K - $99K/yr

Position Summary The Sales Compensation Associate manages day-to-day operations for sales variable compensation programs, ensuring accurate plan administration and timely payments. This role supports ...

5 Legal

Compensation & Benefits Associate

Denver, CO · On-site

Am Law top 50 firm which is consistently ranked among the leading law firms is looking for an associate to join their Compensation and Benefits practice group. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years ...

Athenahealth

Sales Compensation Associate

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$59K - $99K/yr

Position Summary The Sales Compensation Associate manages day-to-day operations for sales variable compensation programs, ensuring accurate plan administration and timely payments. This role supports ...

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All JobsCompensation Associate Jobs

Compensation Associate information

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$46.5K

$59.6K

$70.5K

How much do compensation associate jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for compensation associate in the United States is $59,571.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,500.00 and $64,500.00 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.
More about Compensation Associate jobs
What cities are hiring for Compensation Associate jobs? Cities with the most Compensation Associate job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Compensation jobs? The most popular types of Compensation jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Compensation Associate jobs? The top employers for Compensation Associate jobs are:
What states have the most Compensation Associate jobs? States with the most job openings for Compensation Associate jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Compensation Associate jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Compensation Associate jobs are:
Compensation Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Compensation Associate job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,571 per year, or $28.6 per hour.
Executive Compensation Associate

Executive Compensation Associate

Fenwick & West LLP

Mountain View, CA • On-site

$310K - $390K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Job Description Summary:
Fenwick is a leading technology and life science law firm with a cutting edge, internationally recognized, dynamic corporate practice with offices in Northern California, New York, Santa Monica, Seattle, and Washington D.C. Our Executive Compensation Group advises top technology and Fortune 500 companies on complex compensation issues and has a robust role in supporting our M&A practice. In particular, the ECG team has worked on transformational transactions for many tech and life sciences companies, with novel, complex, and cutting-edge issues relevant to compensation law. Our ECG team was also recently ranked nationally by Chambers USA.
Job Description:
We are seeking an Executive Compensation Associate to join our Silicon Valley, New York, San Francisco, Santa Monica, or Boston office. The ideal candidate will have four (4) to six (6) years of experience in executive compensation matters. The candidate will work on eclectic executive compensation matters, including mergers and acquisitions, public company offerings and reporting obligations, and general advising and counseling. The candidate should be conversant in Section 409A, 280G, 83, and 421-424 of the U.S. tax code and securities laws governing employee incentives. The candidate should have a strong background in these areas and notable tax and securities experience. Superior academic credentials, excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills a must. Admission in jurisdiction of application is required.
To apply, please complete our online application through Workday. Applications must include a cover letter, resume, deal sheet, and law school transcript.
Benefits and Compensation Details:
At Fenwick, we believe that our partners and employees are our most important asset. Helping you and your families achieve and maintain good health - physical, emotional, and financial - is the reason we offer a comprehensive benefit program. We provide benefits to eligible employees under plans such as Healthcare, Life Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Wellbeing. Except as otherwise required by law, temporary employees are generally not entitled to these benefits.
The anticipated range for this position is:
$310,000 - $390,000
Depending on the role, the actual base salary offered may depend upon a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.
A discretionary bonus for eligible employees may also be available based on performance. Additional information about employee eligibility for benefits and discretionary bonus will be made available upon request.

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