Overview

Pave Market Data is a web-based compensation benchmarking product for employers setting pay across roles and markets. It is best suited to teams able to connect their HR systems and looking for benchmarks across salary, cash compensation, and equity. Its broad coverage is compelling, but required platform connections and quote-based Pro pricing make it a less direct choice for buyers seeking standalone access or a clear enterprise price.

Key features

Pave gathers workforce data through persistent HRIS, ATS, and equity-system connections, collecting it daily and publishing benchmark updates monthly. Machine learning matches employee records to Pave’s job architecture before aggregation and de-identification. Monthly updates provide a regular reference point for pay decisions, but are not real-time benchmarks.

Coverage spans more than 200 job families. Benchmarks include base salary, bonus and variable pay, total cash compensation, and new-hire and ongoing equity. Pro covers more than 55 countries and 90 cities or metros, and adds custom peer groups, advanced equity data, and customized reports. Those additions suit employers comparing specialized roles or multiple markets; teams with simpler U.S.-only needs may find Lite sufficient.

Access requires connecting HR platforms, including HRIS, ATS, and equity management systems. Supported HRIS providers include ADP, BambooHR, Gusto, Rippling, and Workday. That integration requirement is a practical barrier for organizations unable or unwilling to share system data. Pave says benchmarks are aggregated and de-identified, and users cannot access a specific competitor’s compensation data. It also reports ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 compliance.

Pricing

Market Data Lite: 0.00 USD per free. It provides overall U.S. benchmarks and one additional market for startups with 1–200 employees. This is the accessible option for qualifying smaller companies, but its eligibility and limited market scope rule it out for larger employers or teams needing broad geographic coverage.

Market Data Pro: custom pricing. It provides global benchmarks, advanced reports, custom peer groups, advanced equity data, and customized reports. All companies are eligible. Pro is the fit for employers with broader or more complex benchmarking needs, though quote-based pricing means buyers must request a price rather than compare a published rate.

Platforms

Pave Market Data runs on the web. Its reliance on connected HR systems is central to access, so it is best for organizations already able to connect their HRIS, ATS, and equity platforms. Pave’s help center supports searching for answers and submitting a support ticket.

Who it's for

Market Data Lite is aimed at startups with 1–200 employees that need U.S. benchmarks plus one additional market. Pro is intended for companies seeking global coverage, peer comparisons, and more advanced reporting or equity data. Organizations that cannot connect HR platforms, need real-time updates, or want an upfront Pro price should consider other options.

Pros and cons

Pro: Benchmarks span more than 200 job families and multiple forms of compensation, including equity, giving pay teams a broad basis for comparisons.
Pro: Daily data collection and monthly benchmark publication provide a recurring refresh cycle.
Pro: Lite offers a free entry point for eligible startups, with U.S. coverage and one additional market.
Con: Required HR-platform connections can prevent access for organizations that cannot or will not connect those systems.
Con: Monthly publication is less immediate than real-time benchmarking.
Con: Pro’s custom pricing makes its cost harder to assess before contacting Pave.

Alternatives

For a broader category comparison, browse Compensation Management Software, Salary Benchmarking Software, Pay Transparency Software, Workforce Planning Software, and Total Rewards Software.

SimplyMerit is another paid web option, with a free trial but no free plan. Compose by Decusoft is a paid option across Android, iOS, and web, with pricing handled through a demo. CompUp is a paid product offered on web and via API.

Salary.com CompXL is a paid web alternative without a free plan; its CompXL Max pricing requires a personalized demo. Compport is a paid web and API option with quote-based pricing that varies by headcount, plan complexity, and modules.

Choose Figures if a published benchmark price and real-time fixed and variable pay data matter: Figures Benchmark costs 4000.00 EUR per year and includes company-profile filters and data-quality indicators. PayReview is a paid web alternative with a Standard plan at 5000.00 USD per year for up to 3,000 employees, unlimited pay changes per year, and 2–3 approval tiers. Aeqium offers a paid web Foundations plan with compensation cycle management, bands, and interactive offer letters, with add-ons available.

Verdict

Pave Market Data is a strong fit for startups eligible for Lite and employers that can connect HR systems and need recurring benchmarks across roles, compensation types, and markets. Its broad coverage and de-identified data are the main reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if system connections are a blocker, real-time updates are essential, or you need to know Pro’s cost before requesting a quote.

	Incentiv	Pave Market Data
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	—	Free
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, Web	Web
Data geography	global	global
Data refresh	real-time	monthly
Free plan	—	Yes
Job matching	—	Yes
Custom peer groups	—	Yes

Incentiv vs Pave Market Data

Incentiv

Pave Market Data