Human Resources55% remote-eligible+3.5% YoY growth

Compensation Analyst Salary
by City (2026)

Benchmark pay and model compensation structures using market data. National median: $85K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$85K

Top 10% earn

$130K

Entry level

$65K

Salary growth

+3.5%/yr

Compensation Analyst salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$98K	$128K	$158K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$94K	$123K	$152K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$91K	$119K	$147K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$91K	$118K	$146K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$91K	$118K	$146K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$90K	$117K	$145K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$90K	$117K	$145K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$88K	$115K	$142K	175	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$88K	$115K	$142K	162	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$87K	$113K	$140K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$85K	$111K	$137K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$85K	$111K	$137K	165	6.85%
Seattle, WA	$85K	$111K	$137K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$85K	$111K	$137K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$85K	$111K	$137K	148	5.75%
Bethesda, MD	$85K	$111K	$137K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$84K	$110K	$135K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$83K	$109K	$134K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$83K	$108K	$133K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$82K	$107K	$132K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$81K	$106K	$131K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$80K	$105K	$130K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$79K	$104K	$128K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$80K	$104K	$129K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$80K	$104K	$129K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$79K	$103K	$127K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$79K	$103K	$127K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$77K	$101K	$125K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$77K	$100K	$124K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$77K	$100K	$124K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$77K	$100K	$124K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$77K	$100K	$124K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$77K	$100K	$124K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$75K	$98K	$121K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$75K	$98K	$121K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$75K	$98K	$121K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$75K	$98K	$121K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$73K	$95K	$118K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$73K	$95K	$118K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$73K	$95K	$118K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$73K	$95K	$118K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$73K	$95K	$118K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$73K	$95K	$118K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$72K	$94K	$116K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$72K	$94K	$116K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$72K	$94K	$116K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$72K	$94K	$116K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$72K	$94K	$116K	105	4.85%
New Haven, CT	$72K	$94K	$116K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$72K	$94K	$116K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$71K	$93K	$115K	120	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$70K	$92K	$113K	108	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$70K	$92K	$113K	118	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$70K	$92K	$113K	112	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	5%
Raleigh, NC	$70K	$92K	$113K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$70K	$92K	$113K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$70K	$92K	$113K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$71K	$92K	$114K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$70K	$92K	$113K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$70K	$91K	$113K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$70K	$91K	$113K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$70K	$91K	$113K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$70K	$91K	$113K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$70K	$91K	$113K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$70K	$91K	$113K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$70K	$91K	$113K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$70K	$91K	$113K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$69K	$90K	$111K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$69K	$90K	$111K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$69K	$90K	$111K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$68K	$89K	$110K	97	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$68K	$89K	$109K	108	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$68K	$89K	$110K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$68K	$89K	$110K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$68K	$89K	$110K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$68K	$89K	$109K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$68K	$89K	$109K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$68K	$89K	$109K	108	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$68K	$89K	$110K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$68K	$89K	$110K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$68K	$89K	$110K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$68K	$89K	$110K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$68K	$89K	$109K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$68K	$89K	$109K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$68K	$88K	$109K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$66K	$87K	$107K	93	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$67K	$87K	$108K	105	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$66K	$87K	$107K	100	None ✓
Springfield, MA	$67K	$87K	$108K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$67K	$87K	$108K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$67K	$87K	$108K	105	None ✓
Reno, NV	$66K	$87K	$107K	108	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$67K	$87K	$108K	105	5.8%
Denton, TX	$65K	$86K	$106K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$66K	$86K	$107K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$65K	$86K	$106K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$65K	$86K	$106K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$65K	$86K	$106K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$65K	$86K	$106K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$65K	$86K	$106K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$65K	$86K	$106K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$66K	$86K	$107K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$65K	$86K	$106K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$65K	$85K	$105K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$65K	$85K	$105K	91	None ✓
Albany, NY	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$65K	$85K	$105K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$65K	$85K	$105K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$65K	$85K	$105K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$65K	$85K	$105K	102	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$65K	$85K	$105K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$65K	$85K	$105K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$64K	$84K	$103K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$64K	$84K	$103K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$64K	$84K	$103K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$64K	$84K	$103K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$64K	$84K	$103K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$64K	$84K	$103K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$64K	$84K	$103K	95	6.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$64K	$83K	$103K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$64K	$83K	$103K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$64K	$83K	$103K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$64K	$83K	$103K	102	5.3%
Grand Prairie, TX	$62K	$82K	$101K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$63K	$82K	$102K	92	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$62K	$82K	$101K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$62K	$82K	$101K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$62K	$82K	$101K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$63K	$82K	$102K	92	5.75%
Sterling Heights, MI	$62K	$82K	$101K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$62K	$82K	$101K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$62K	$82K	$101K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$62K	$82K	$101K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$62K	$82K	$101K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$63K	$82K	$102K	92	6.8%
Huntsville, AL	$62K	$82K	$101K	88	5%
Greenville, SC	$63K	$82K	$102K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$63K	$82K	$102K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$62K	$82K	$101K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$62K	$81K	$100K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$62K	$81K	$100K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$62K	$81K	$100K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$62K	$81K	$100K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$62K	$81K	$100K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$61K	$80K	$98K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$60K	$79K	$98K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$60K	$79K	$97K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$60K	$78K	$97K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$60K	$78K	$97K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	4.75%
Omaha, NE	$60K	$78K	$97K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$59K	$78K	$96K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$59K	$77K	$95K	78	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$59K	$77K	$95K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$59K	$77K	$95K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$59K	$77K	$95K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$59K	$77K	$95K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$59K	$77K	$95K	78	3.23%
New Orleans, LA	$59K	$77K	$95K	92	6%
Shreveport, LA	$59K	$77K	$95K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$59K	$77K	$95K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$59K	$77K	$95K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$58K	$76K	$94K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$58K	$76K	$94K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$58K	$76K	$94K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$57K	$75K	$92K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$57K	$75K	$92K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$57K	$75K	$92K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$57K	$75K	$92K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$57K	$75K	$92K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$57K	$75K	$92K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$57K	$75K	$92K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$57K	$75K	$92K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$57K	$75K	$92K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$57K	$75K	$92K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$56K	$73K	$90K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$55K	$72K	$89K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$55K	$72K	$89K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$53K	$70K	$86K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$53K	$70K	$86K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$51K	$66K	$82K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $85K Compensation Analyst salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Compensation Analyst Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Compensation Analyst is $85,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $65,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $105,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Compensation Analysts nationally earn $130,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's degree. This role is 55% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Compensation Analyst compensation is growing at 3.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Compensation Analyst salary FAQ

How much does a Compensation Analyst make?

The median Compensation Analyst salary in the US is $85,000 per year — about $41/hour. Most earn between $65,000 (25th percentile) and $105,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Compensation Analyst?

Entry-level Compensation Analyst positions typically start around $65,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Compensation Analysts earn?

The top 10% of Compensation Analysts earn $130,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Compensation Analysts the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Compensation Analyst salary at $128K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Compensation Analyst salaries going up?

Yes — Compensation Analyst pay is growing about 3.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Compensation Analyst Salaryby City (2026)