Traditionally, teacher compensation has been viewed in isolation from other components of organizational reform. This paper examines changes in the conceptualization of schooling over time using an organizational lens, and considers how compensation systems might be better designed to match alternative organizational designs. Four different organizational designs are considered: scientific management, effective schools, content-driven, and high standards/high involvement. Implications of each design are considered for the development of compensation models which better mesh with current conceptualizations of schools and teachers.