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Gusto

4,405 Total Employees
Year Founded: 2012

Gusto Compensation & Benefits

Updated on June 08, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Base Pay & Bonuses

Gusto aims to provide competitive compensation through a Total Rewards philosophy that combines market-based pay, equity, bonuses for eligible roles and comprehensive benefits. The company states that its approach is designed to attract, retain and reward talented employees while supporting fairness, transparency and long-term growth. Rather than focusing solely on salary, Gusto takes a holistic approach to compensation that includes cash compensation, equity, health and wellness benefits, paid leave and career development opportunities. 

  • Market-based compensation practices: Gusto states that it regularly evaluates compensation against external market data to help ensure pay remains competitive. The company uses market benchmarking to inform compensation decisions and strives to provide compensation that reflects employees' skills, experience, responsibilities and contributions. This approach helps Gusto remain competitive in attracting talent across a variety of functions and geographic markets.
  • Equity as part of total compensation: Equity is an important component of Gusto's compensation philosophy. By offering equity participation, Gusto gives employees an opportunity to share in the company's long-term success and align their interests with the growth of the business. The company positions equity as a key part of its overall rewards package rather than relying solely on base salary.
  • Bonus opportunities for eligible roles: While compensation structures vary by position and function, Gusto includes performance-based compensation opportunities for eligible employees and teams. These programs are designed to recognize individual and business contributions while supporting company performance and long-term success.
  • Comprehensive Total Rewards beyond salary: Gusto's compensation philosophy extends beyond direct pay. Employees have access to a broad range of benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, fertility and family-forming benefits, gender-affirming care, mental health support, paid parental leave, paid time off and sabbatical opportunities. By combining compensation with a comprehensive benefits package, Gusto aims to provide a competitive overall employee value proposition.
  • Commitment to fairness and transparency: Gusto emphasizes building compensation programs that are equitable, inclusive and understandable. The company publishes salary ranges in many job postings and has publicly discussed its commitment to compensation transparency as part of creating a fair employee experience. This approach helps employees understand how compensation decisions are made and how pay aligns with role expectations and market benchmarks.
  • Performance and growth are recognized: Gusto's broader talent philosophy encourages employees to grow their skills, increase their impact and take on greater responsibility over time. Compensation growth is tied to career progression, expanded scope and contributions, helping employees see a connection between performance, development and rewards.
  • External signals:
    • Employees highlight Gusto's compensation package as including salary, equity and a comprehensive benefits offering, positioning Total Rewards as an important part of the employee experience.
    • Gusto has been recognized by organizations including Great Place to Work, Fortune and Inc. for workplace culture and employee experience, which often includes employee perceptions of rewards, recognition and overall employment value.
    • Employee review platforms frequently cite benefits, equity opportunities and overall compensation as notable components of Gusto's employee experience. (Glassdoor; Comparably)

Bottom line: Gusto seeks to keep pay and bonus plans competitive through a combination of market-based compensation, equity participation, performance-based rewards and comprehensive benefits. The company's approach focuses on providing a well-rounded Total Rewards package that supports employees both financially and personally while creating opportunities to share in the company's long-term success. 

Gusto's Candidate Tradeoffs

If you’re weighing whether Gusto is the right fit, these are the core tradeoffs to consider.

  • Gusto places greater emphasis on comprehensive, top-tier benefits than on accelerating compensation growth year over year.

What People Are Saying About Gusto

  • Healthcare Strength: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage is highlighted, alongside mental-health resources, family planning and fertility support, gender-affirming care, and abortion travel assistance. Availability of HSAs/FSAs and integrated care elements further reinforce the health pillar.
  • Parental & Family Support: Robust parental leave, adoption assistance, childcare benefits, and a structured return-to-work program are emphasized. Additional supports like sleep coaching and house cleaning for new parents broaden this safety net.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth: Paid vacation, sick time, bereavement leave, holidays, and sabbaticals are part of the package. A flexible PTO approach is also described, encouraging time away as needed.

Gusto's Benefits

Defined structured pay bands with transparent earning potential

Geographic pay differences are clearly defined and explained

Offers company equity

Offers competitive compensation and rewards package

Offers childcare benefits

Offers generous parental leave

Provides a post-parental leave return-to-work program

Provides adoption assistance

Provides an onsite Mother's Room

Provides family medical leave

Provides fertility benefits

Gusto provides a benefit designed to support your unique parenthood journey. The benefit is not health insurance, but rather provides resources to make family forming more accessible to everyone.

Offers abortion travel benefits

Offers dental insurance

Offers dependent care

Offers Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Offers health insurance

Offers Health Savings Account (HSA)

Offers mental health benefits

Offers transgender health care benefits

Offers vision insurance

Offers 401(K)

Offers disability insurance

Offers life insurance