What the boss makes, May 13

This is a daily series profiling CEO compensation for South Carolina’s largest publicly traded companies. They are being published from the smallest total pay to the largest. The daily reports will be compiled at thestate.com/business

Company

Advance America, Cash Advance Centers Inc., a Spartanburg payday lender with 7,000 employees

CEO

Kenneth Compton

Total ’07 pay

Total: $ 1,014,144, down 2%

Pay breakdown

Base salary: $595,192

Bonus: $400,000

Other compensation: $18,952

Net ’07 profit

-22% to $54.4 million

Stock price in ’07

-31% to $10.16

Etc.

Compton’s base pay rose 3.4 percent last year, but his bonus fell 13 percent. Profits were hurt by increasing regulation of the payday-lending industry. He used $18,000 worth of flight time in the company’s personal jet.

Note: Net profit and stock price as of Dec. 31; changes versus 2006 figures

— Ben Werner