Compensation Collection | Carta
Create a compensation plan that works for you and your employees.
Aligning your compensation philosophy with your business strategy can help you hire, retain, and reward top talent. Get compensation right from the start with our expert-reviewed guides and exclusive templates.
Getting started
Author: The Carta Team
Date: March 2026
Featured article
Employee compensation: A founder's guide to compensation packages
Learn how to build a competitive employee compensation package to attract top talent and stay compliant as you scale.
Compensation
March 2026
Compensation philosophy: Creating a framework for compensation
Learn how to create your first compensation philosophy, a clear framework that will help you make consistent decisions regarding compensation as you build your team.
Compensation
March 2026
Creating a compensation plan that wins top talent
Learn how to build and manage a strategic compensation plan that attracts and retains top talent, manages your burn rate, and builds a culture of ownership.
Compensation
October 2025
Job leveling: The solution to compensation and career growth pains
Creating a job leveling framework to fairly compensate employees is an often-overlooked part of team building. Explore our free job leveling guide to get started.
Compensation and equity
Startup employee equity: What founders should know
How much should I pay my first employees? Compensation strategy for founders
How do I teach my employees about equity?
State of Startup Compensation
Authors: Kevin Dowd & Peter Walker
Date: March 2024
Featured article
State of startup compensation, H2 2023
Headcount contracted across the startup ecosystem as companies continue to adjust compensation strategies in response to economic headwinds.
Data & Research
September 2023
State of startup compensation, H1 2023
The past year's decline in startup fundraising had major effects on startup employee compensation.
Data & Research
February 2023
State of startup compensation, H2 2022
Startups in 2023 are facing compensation markets unlike any in recent memory.
Compensation
June 2022
The state of startup compensation, H1 2022
Carta’s first startup compensation report looks at headcount, payroll, and equity benchmarks—plus trends in remote hiring, and salary across the U.S.
LLC Blueprints
Bring the power of employee ownership to your company with this guide on six LLC equity types and how to implement them.