High　dynamic　range　(HDR)　image　has　larger　luminance　range　than　conventional　low　dynamic　range　(LDR)　image,　which　is　more　consistent　with　human　visual　system　(HVS).　Recently,　JPEG　committee　releases　a　new　HDR　image　compression　standard　JPEG　XT.　It　decomposes　input　HDR　image　into　base　layer　and　extension　layer.　However,　this　method　doesn＇t　make　full　use　of　HVS,　causing　waste　of　bits　on　imperceptible　regions　to　human　eyes.　In　this　paper,　a　visual　saliency　based　HDR　image　compression　scheme　is　proposed.　The　saliency　map　of　tone　mapped　HDR　image　is　first　extracted,　then　is　used　to　guide　extension　layer　encoding.　The　compression　quality　is　adaptive　to　the　saliency　of　the　coding　region　of　the　image.　Extensive　experimental　results　show　that　our　method　outperforms　JPEG　XT　profile　A,　B,　C,　and　offers　the　JPEG　compatibility　at　the　same　time.　Moreover,　our　method　can　provide　progressive　coding　of　extension　layer.