Low compensation, in both earnings and benefits, and the resulting high turnover of staff and low quality of programs in early childhood care and education are a national problem. Noting that how we define and view the problem, and the strategies we adopt to solve it, may differ depending on perspectives and disciplines, this paper expands the field's understanding of the compensation problem and suggests a range of strategies for consideration to address the problem. Following an introduction and overview of the current context of early care and education, the paper describes the compensation problem from a variety of perspectives, including supply and demand, reliance on an elastic workforce, return on investment in education, and union organization. The paper then explores ways to broaden the range of strategies that can be used to craft solutions: (1) career development; (2) greater investments per child; (3) direct investments in programs, staff, and quality; (4) better information to consumers; (5) upgraded standards used in licensing and funding; and (6) organizing the workforce. Finally, the paper highlights promising initiatives that are underway to raise compensation, some of which are beginning to demonstrate effects on turnover, and thus on quality. (HTH)