AI is increasingly shaping how workers are paid, according to Resume Now’s new AI in Pay Report. The survey of 884 U.S. employees shows a clear trend: technology is taking a bigger role in determining salaries and bonuses. Employees, broadly speaking, are aware of this development and have mixed feelings about it.
Fifty-six percent of respondents said AI now plays a much larger role in compensation than it did three years ago, while 63% believe it will expand significantly in the next five years. Despite lingering unease, the data suggests many employees see potential benefits. Sixty-eight percent think AI-assisted pay decisions would be fairer, and an equal share say they would trust such decisions more than those made without AI involvement.
Trust depends on transparency
Employees’ support for AI seems to hinge on strong safeguards. Nearly all respondents (94%) said pay algorithms should be reviewed by an independent third party, and 93% would welcome AI if it helped eliminate unconscious bias. At the same time, 65% worry about algorithmic bias, 54% cite lack of transparency, and 45% fear losing human judgment in the process.
To build trust, the study’s authors recommend pairing automation with accountability—offering employees clear pay bands, plain-language explanations of model factors, and a documented appeal process involving a human reviewer. Workers are also encouraged to keep dated records of their achievements and role changes to help contextualize AI-generated recommendations.
A human touch still matters
The report concludes that AI has the potential to improve fairness and consistency in pay, but only when paired with human oversight. Regular check-ins can capture nuances that algorithms might miss, such as stretch assignments or shifting responsibilities.
In short, employees appear cautiously optimistic about AI’s expanding role in compensation. With independent audits, transparency, and the ability to challenge results, most say they would trust AI to help make fairer, more data-driven pay decisions—just as long as there’s still a human in the loop.
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