Payscale’s 2025 Salary Budget Survey reveals a cautious pay environment as employers prepare for 2026. Drawing on insights from 1,551 organizations across the U.S., Canada, and beyond, the findings show that salary increase budgets are flattening, even as inflation and wage expectations remain elevated. Payscale’s findings illustrate a shift in the employment landscape. Wage growth between 2021 and 2023 became more cautious, and employers are focusing on controlling costs amid consistentl...