{{Short description|American compensation software and data company}} {{advertisement |reason=The basic information and description of this company does not seem neutrally written. It reads as if it is self-authored by the company. |date=March 2026}} {{Infobox website<!-- Should this be infobox company instead? The article discusses a company and does not focus on a website as the primary offering of the company. --> | name = Payscale | logo = File:Payscale-logo dark.svg | type = Private | industry = Internet | language = Multilingual | registration = Optional | current_status = Active | foundation = {{start date and age|2002|1|1}} | founder = Joe Giordano<br>John Gaffney | commercial = Yes | key_people = Chris Hays, CEO<ref>{{cite web|title=Payscale Management Team|url=https://www.payscale.com/why-payscale/executive-leadership/}}</ref> | location = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Morgan |first1=Rick |title=Salary data company Payscale moves headquarters out of Seattle |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2025/12/03/payscale-headquarters-boston-pioneer-square.html |access-date=February 6, 2026|publisher=Puget Sound Business Journal|date=December 3, 2025}}</ref> | homepage = {{url|www.payscale.com}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} '''Payscale''' (originally stylized as '''PayScale''') is an American compensation software and data company that collects and provides information about employment compensation.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Darlin|first=Damon|date=March 3, 2007|title=Using the Web to Get the Boss to Pay More|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/technology/03money.html|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref><ref name="motley fool">{{cite web|last1=Bieber|first1=Christy|title=Pros and Cons of an Open Salary Policy|url=https://www.fool.com/careers/2018/06/28/pros-and-cons-of-an-open-salary-policy.aspx|website=The Motley Fool|accessdate=July 11, 2018|date=June 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Arrington|first=Michael|date=October 12, 2006|title=How Much Money Do You Make?|url=https://techcrunch.com/2006/10/12/how-much-money-do-you-make/|access-date=October 13, 2021|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Duryee|first=Tricia|date=August 29, 2005|title=PayScale shows you the money|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002455291_btinterface29.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310222807/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002455291_btinterface29.html|archive-date=March 10, 2012|access-date=October 13, 2021|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US}}</ref>
==History== The website was launched on January 1, 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=24326552 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624051345/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=24326552 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 24, 2008 |title=Payscale, Inc. on Business Week |publisher=Investing.businessweek.com |accessdate=August 2, 2012}}</ref> It was founded by Joe Giordano and John Gaffney. Mike Metzger was CEO from 2004 to 2019. Scott Torrey, a 20-year veteran of SAP Concur, started as CEO on August 26, 2019, and stepped down on November 16, 2021. Alex Hart was then named CEO in November 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/08/26/payscale-concur-new-ceo.html|title=Payscale names longtime Concur exec as CEO|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=April 17, 2020}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2021/tech-moves-payscale-ceo-steps-down/|title=Tech Moves: Payscale CEO steps down|website=www.geekwire.com|date=November 16, 2021 |access-date=January 22, 2023}}</ref> In January 2024, Chris Hays assumed the role of CEO.
On April 24, 2014, Warburg Pincus acquired Payscale in a deal worth up to $100 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/04/24/warburg-pincus-buys-compensation-software-service-payscale-for-up-to-100-million/|title=Salary report generator Payscale getting up to $100M in deal led by Warburg Pincus|last=Cook|first=John|date=April 24, 2014|accessdate=May 7, 2014}}</ref>
On April 25, 2019, Francisco Partners announced a majority investment in Payscale at an enterprise value of $325 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/salary-compensation-data-site-payscale-valued-325m-new-private-equity-investment/|title=Compensation data site Payscale valued at $325M after new private equity investment|last=Soper|first=Taylor|date=April 25, 2019|website=GeekWire}}</ref>
In 2021, Payscale merged with Payfactors, a leading competitor. The new company operates under the Payscale brand.<ref>{{cite press release |title=PayScale and Payfactors Join Forces to Create Compensation Technology and Data Powerhouse |url=https://www.payscale.com/press-releases/payscale-and-payfactors-join-forces-to-create-compensation-technology-and-data-powerhouse/ |access-date=December 27, 2022 |work=Payscale}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bishop |first=Todd |date=March 1, 2021 |title=PayScale and Payfactors combine into 600-person company, eyeing big market for compensation data |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2021/payscale-payfactors-combine-600-person-company-eyeing-big-market-compensation-data/ |access-date=February 17, 2025 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that year, Payscale acquired pay equity and compensation management company CURO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PayScale Acquires CURO to Help Companies Ensure Fair Compensation {{!}} Built In Seattle |url=https://www.builtinseattle.com/articles/payscale-acquires-curo |access-date=February 17, 2025 |website=Built In |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Payscale Continues Growth Trend Through Acquisition of Pay Equity Analysis and Compensation Management Software Leader, CURO |url=https://www.payscale.com/press-releases/payscale-continues-growth-trend-through-acquisition-of-pay-equity-analysis-and-compensation-management-software-leader-curo/ |access-date=December 27, 2022 |work=Payscale}}</ref> In 2022, Payscale acquired Agora, a software development company focused on pay transparency and employee experience.<ref>{{cite news |title=Payscale Acquires Agora, Strengthening Unrivaled Portfolio of Compensation Data, Software and Services |url=https://www.payscale.com/press-releases/payscale-acquires-agora-strengthening-unrivaled-portfolio-of-compensation-data-software-and-services/ |access-date=December 27, 2022 |work=Payscale}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Payscale Acquires Agora |url=https://www.themiddlemarket.com/latest-news/payscale-acquires-agora |access-date=February 17, 2025 |website=www.themiddlemarket.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Business model and offerings== Payscale started by collecting crowdsourced compensation data from employees and providing the collected data to employers. Its software as a service (SaaS) offerings have evolved to draw from multiple compensation data sources. Business customers can also manage their employee compensation strategy and structure within the company's platform and perform compensation analytics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.g2.com/products/payscale/reviews|title=Payscale Reviews & Product Details|date=September 13, 2019|website=G2 Crowd}}</ref> For employees, the service works via the Internet by collecting information from individuals about their job profile and salary data, which is then compared to others like them. The individuals who submit such information receive a free report on their market worth.
The company generates revenue by selling SaaS subscriptions, compensation data and services to employers, to help them assess market rates for hiring, benchmarking and budgeting, and by targeted advertising to employees that visit its website.
Payscale surveys its users' income and background, and since 2007, it has published an annual ranking of American colleges and universities by their estimated return on investment. The rankings have been popular with the public but controversial among scholars of higher education.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lederman|first=Doug|date=April 18, 2017|title=PayScale rankings of ROI have influence (and significant limitations)|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/04/18/payscale-rankings-roi-have-influence-and-significant-limitations|access-date=October 13, 2021|website=Inside Higher Ed|language=en}}</ref>
Payscale puts on an annual compensation industry event called Compference<ref>{{Cite web|title=Compference21 – The World's Best Modern Compensation Event|url=https://www.payscale.com/compference|access-date=October 13, 2021|website=PayScale|language=en-US}}</ref> and publishes original research on compensation-related topics such as gender pay gaps, college return on investment, and salary history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.payscale.com/data|title=Comp Research|website=Payscale}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|2}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.payscale.com}}
Category:Online databases Category:Companies based in Seattle Category:2002 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Privately held companies based in Washington (state) Category:American companies established in 2002 Category:Online companies of the United States Category:Internet properties established in 2002 Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions Category:Warburg Pincus companies