Compensation Analyst

Albemarle County Government is seeking a Compensation Analyst to administer and maintain the County’s compensation programs, ensuring fair, competitive, and legally compliant pay practices across departments. This position plays a critical role in salary benchmarking, job classification and evaluations, and position control management while providing strategic guidance to HR colleagues, Finance, and department leadership.

The primary focus for this position will be on public safety compensation (Police, Fire, and Sheriff’s Office) and ensuring that pay structures remain competitive within the market. Other work will include supporting annual compensation review initiatives for the organization and service for positions supported by the Virginia Compensation Board. The Compensation Analyst will collaborate with internal stakeholders to maintain position control records, and support workforce planning efforts.

If you have a strong background in compensation analysis, salary administration, public sector pay structures and/or working with public safety departments, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding opportunity.

This is an FLSA exempt position with a starting salary range $80,354-$88,389 DOQ, EOE.

Job Summary/ Objective:

The Compensation Analyst is responsible for administering and maintaining the County’s compensation programs, ensuring competitive, fair, and legally compliant pay practices across all departments. This role conducts salary analyses, evaluates job classifications, maintains position control, and supports the County’s payroll processes.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Essential Functions:

• Conducts market analyses and salary benchmarking to ensure competitive pay structures for assigned County departments/work groups.
• Researches compensation trends and best practices in the public sector, including step pay plans, salary compression issues, stipends, and incentives.
• Develops recommendations for pay adjustments, incentives, and retention strategies.
• Reviews and evaluates job classifications and pay grade placements for assigned County positions. Ensures accurate FLSA classification.
• Develops and maintains job descriptions across assigned departments.
• Provides guidance on compensation policies, ensuring fair and consistent application across County departments.
• Assists with maintaining the County’s position control system, tracking approved positions, vacancies, and budgeted salaries. Ensures alignment between budgeted positions and actual staffing. Processes position changes, reclassifications, and new position requests.
• Assists in the administration of annual salary adjustments, merit and COLA increases, and step pay plans. Ensures adherence to local, state, and federal compensation laws, including FLSA and pay equity regulations.
• Provides compensation guidance during hiring processes, promotions, and pay adjustments.
• Assists with County’s payroll processes

Competency: Knowledge/ Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of wage and hour laws pertaining to FLSA and work scheduling.
• Knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of classification and compensation management and administration.
• Knowledge of the County’s compensation and payroll policies and processes
• Skilled with timeline based comprehensive research.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with an ability to explain complex concepts and processes.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong critical thinking skills and ability to analyze data to make recommendations.
• Excellent organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail
• Knowledge and ability to work within Human Resources Information Systems.
• Ability to prioritize work assignments.
• Ability to work independently, with minimal direction and/or supervision
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Statistics, Public Administration or related field or equivalent experience and training in labor economics, payroll processes, human resources, or data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in compensation analysis and salary administration OR significant experience working in public safety with compensation, scheduling, and time-keeping responsibilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and HRIS systems.
• Possession of a valid appropriate driver’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia

Preferred Qualifications/Certifications:

• Experience in both compensation and public safety scheduling is highly desirable.
• Experience in administration of step pay plans.
• Experience working in ADP Payroll and Timekeeper processes

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $80,354-$88,389 per year. Starting offer is based on applicable education beyond minimum requirements and internal equity. The position also provides excellent benefits including 12 paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, VRS retirement, and continuing education/training opportunities. This is a full time, FLSA exempt position. Internal candidates will receive pay adjustments in accordance with Local Government Personnel Policy, §P-60.

Remote Work :

This position is eligible for a hybrid remote work schedule that is in compliance with the County’s Remote Work Policy and meets the operational and service needs for the position. All County staff must maintain residence within the Commonwealth of Virginia.


Albemarle County Core Values:

Albemarle County holds its employees to the highest standards in fulfilling the County’s Vision and Mission. We believe in excellence in public service through

Community: We expect diversity, equity and inclusion to be integrated into how we live our mission.

Integrity: We value our customers and co-workers by always providing honest and fair treatment.

Innovation: We embrace creativity and positive change.

Stewardship: We honor our role as stewards of the public trust by managing our natural, human, and financial resources respectfully and responsibly.

Learning: We encourage and support lifelong learning and personal and professional growth.

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• Albemarle County

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