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AI is reshaping how founders build and compensate their teams. Smaller teams are proliferating. Since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, overall hiring has slowed, departures have fallen, and net headcount growth has flattened.

In the first half of 2025, startup salaries have risen—especially for legal, product, and AI roles— while equity packages remain static. Hiring has slowed in most sectors except hardware, as companies focus on leaner teams and more strategic growth.

More than 30 new charts and accompanying analysis illuminate the key trends for startups, founders, and employees, including salary and equity data by job function, job level, industry, and more.

Carta data shows that companies have become leaner and salary benchmarks have remained flat across much of the ecosystem.

Headcount contracted across the startup ecosystem as companies continue to adjust compensation strategies in response to economic headwinds.

The past year's decline in startup fundraising had major effects on startup employee compensation.

Startups in 2023 are facing compensation markets unlike any in recent memory.

Carta’s first startup compensation report looks at headcount, payroll, and equity benchmarks—plus trends in remote hiring, and salary across the U.S.