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Compensation Program Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Schools Insurance Group

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Workers' Compensation Program Manager

Auburn, CA · On-site

$101K - $136K/yr

Workers Compensation Program Manager Reports to: Director-Claims Services FLSA status: Non-Exempt Salary range: Manager, $101,686-$136,269 Supervises the following direct reporting staff: as ...

New

WelbeHealth

Manager, Compensation

Los Angeles, CA

Compensation) is accountable for implementing and managing comprehensive compensation programs that support WelbeHealth's strategic goals, workforce planning, and talent acquisition efforts. This ...

Workato

Compensation Manager

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

Responsibilities We are seeking a Compensation Manager to support the administration and continuous improvement of the organization's global compensation programs, job architecture, and pay ...

Rippling

Compensation Programs Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$204K - $260K/yr

Contribute to the evolution of compensation program design, including market analysis, job architecture, pay range management, and pay equity reviews. * Own design inputs for compensation software ...

Workato

Compensation Manager

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

... Compensation Manager to support the administration and continuous improvement of the organization ... Total Rewards programs. * Partner with the People team to keep content current, develop new ...

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All JobsCompensation Program JobsCompensation Program Manager JobsCompensation Program Manager Jobs in California

Compensation Program Manager information

See California salary details

$36.3K

$109.7K

$172.7K

How much do compensation program manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for compensation program manager in California is $109,655.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,600.00 and $141,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a compensation program manager?

A compensation program manager is a professional responsible for designing, implementing, and managing employee compensation strategies, including salary structures, bonuses, and benefits. They analyze market data, ensure pay equity, and often use compensation management tools to align pay practices with company goals and compliance standards.

How does a Compensation Program Manager typically collaborate with HR and business leaders to ensure competitive and equitable pay practices?

Compensation Program Managers work closely with HR teams and business leaders to design, review, and adjust pay structures that align with organizational goals and market trends. They often facilitate discussions to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness, interpret compensation data, and provide guidance on pay decisions. Regular collaboration includes analyzing job roles, benchmarking salaries, and ensuring compliance with legal regulations. These cross-functional partnerships are essential for developing compensation programs that attract and retain top talent while maintaining fairness and transparency.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Compensation Program Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Compensation Program Manager, you need strong analytical skills, a solid understanding of compensation strategies, and typically a bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, or a related field. Familiarity with HRIS systems, market pricing tools like PayScale or Radford, and certifications such as CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) are highly valued. Exceptional communication, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills help you navigate complex pay structures and influence stakeholders. These capabilities are essential to ensure competitive, equitable, and compliant compensation programs that attract and retain top talent.

What is the difference between Compensation Program Manager vs Compensation Analyst?

AspectCompensation Program ManagerCompensation Analyst
CredentialsBachelor's degree, often HR or Business; certifications like CCP or CBPBachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related; certifications like CCP beneficial
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, program development, cross-department collaborationData analysis, salary surveys, reporting, and policy implementation
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in HR departments across various industries for managing compensation programsCommonly found in HR teams focusing on salary structures and data analysis

The Compensation Program Manager focuses on designing and managing compensation strategies and programs, while the Compensation Analyst primarily analyzes salary data and supports compensation policies. Both roles require similar credentials and are integral to HR teams, but their responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What does a compensation manager do?

A compensation manager develops and manages salary structures, incentive programs, and benefits to ensure competitive and equitable pay practices within an organization. They analyze market data, ensure compliance with regulations, and collaborate with HR and leadership to align compensation strategies with company goals. Strong analytical skills and knowledge of compensation tools are essential for this role.

What does a Compensation Program Manager do?

A Compensation Program Manager is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing an organization's compensation strategies and programs. This role ensures that employee salaries, bonuses, and benefits are competitive, compliant with legal requirements, and aligned with the company's business goals. Compensation Program Managers analyze market data, develop salary structures, and work closely with HR and leadership to attract and retain top talent. They also evaluate the effectiveness of compensation programs and recommend improvements as needed.

What jobs pay $500,000 a year in the US?

In the US, Compensation Program Managers typically do not earn $500,000 annually; such high salaries are more common in executive roles like CEOs, investment bankers, or specialized surgeons. High compensation in these roles often depends on experience, industry, company size, and performance bonuses. Senior-level positions in finance, technology, or healthcare may reach or exceed this level with bonuses and stock options.

What job makes $1,000,000 a year?

In the field of compensation program management, earning $1,000,000 annually is uncommon and typically associated with executive-level roles such as Chief Compensation Officer or other C-suite positions in large corporations. These roles often include performance bonuses, stock options, and other incentives that can significantly increase total compensation. Most compensation managers earn a median salary well below this figure, with top executives reaching higher earnings through additional compensation packages.
What are popular job titles related to Compensation Program Manager jobs in California? For Compensation Program Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Compensation Program Manager jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Compensation Program Manager jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Compensation Program Manager jobs? Cities in California with the most Compensation Program Manager job openings:
Compensation Program Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Compensation Program Manager job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,655 per year, or $52.7 per hour.

Compensation Program Manager

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA

Other

Re-posted 29 days ago

Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 74,453 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM 

At Anduril, we're not just disrupting defense technology - we're revolutionizing how we value and compensate the brilliant minds behind our innovations. We're seeking a Compensation Manager who's ready to architect the future of our compensation strategy and propel Anduril to new heights and support continued growth.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

You will drive Anduril's success by bringing your compensation expertise to our leadership team and helping us scale. Utilize and combine your prior high growth company experience, quantitative rigor, business mindset, and communication skills to serve as a strategic advisor to our People Business Partners.

  • Lead compensation programs and projects, enabling Anduril to scale it's People infrastructure including job architecture implementation.
  • Guide People Business Partners and leadership teams throughout annual and mid-year compensation planning cycles.
  • Design, implement, and manage comprehensive compensation programs, including salary structures, incentive plans, and equity compensation, aligned with organizational strategy and market trends within our new HCM.
  • Lead job evaluation processes, conduct market pricing analyses, and ensure internal equity and external competitiveness across all job families and levels
  • Partner closely with leadership and HR teams to resolve complex compensation issues, support strategic decision-making, and drive the implementation of compensation initiatives across the organization
  • Work with People Business Partners on how to navigate compensation issues, calibration sessions, analyze compensation data and create materials for Manager & Employee Trainings.
  • Lead change management and communications of compensation practices with managers, team members, and across the People Team.
  • Build strong partnerships with the HROps, People Business Partner, Talent, Payroll, Legal, Stock, Finance and Accounting teams as well as our 3rd party vendors.
  • You enjoy working at a place where no one minds if you leave early one day to go to an appointment or run an errand, but you also don't mind responding to Slacks in the evening while you're watching Netflix.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 
  • 6+ years of experience working in Compensation in roles.
  • Experience with job architecture, levelling guides and market analytics to ensure competitive compensation practices.
  • Experience working with internal stakeholders and executive leadership
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data and trends into key insights and recommendations
  • Proven ability to track, prioritize and drive to success multiple projects with a strong operational background.
  • Passionate about educating, mentoring and teaching partners the values and business impact behind compensation strategies
  • Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 
  • Prior experience in a high growth, hyper scaling startup building compensation programs from the ground up.
  • Prior experience leading compensation initiatives through Mergers & Acquisitions, IPO Readiness & Stock Grant Report is highly desired.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.

What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

Social media

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