diff --git a/rosbag2_compression/CMakeLists.txt b/rosbag2_compression/CMakeLists.txt
index 1862fa2eb2..0376daa247 100644
--- a/rosbag2_compression/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/rosbag2_compression/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ if(BUILD_TESTING)
     test/rosbag2_compression/test_sequential_compression_writer.cpp)
   target_link_libraries(test_sequential_compression_writer
     ${PROJECT_NAME}
+    fake_plugin
     rosbag2_cpp::rosbag2_cpp
     rosbag2_storage::rosbag2_storage
   )
diff --git a/rosbag2_compression/include/rosbag2_compression/compression_options.hpp b/rosbag2_compression/include/rosbag2_compression/compression_options.hpp
index 3028f2a49d..e326dedf5b 100644
--- a/rosbag2_compression/include/rosbag2_compression/compression_options.hpp
+++ b/rosbag2_compression/include/rosbag2_compression/compression_options.hpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <string>
+#include <optional>
 
 #include "visibility_control.hpp"
 
@@ -60,7 +61,12 @@ struct CompressionOptions
   std::string compression_format;
   CompressionMode compression_mode;
   uint64_t compression_queue_size;
+  /// \brief // The number of compression threads
   uint64_t compression_threads;
+  /// \brief If set, the compression thread(s) will try to set the given priority for itself
+  /// For Windows the valid values are: THREAD_PRIORITY_LOWEST, THREAD_PRIORITY_BELOW_NORMAL and
+  /// THREAD_PRIORITY_NORMAL. For POSIX compatible OSes this is the "nice" value.
+  std::optional<int32_t> thread_priority;
 };
 
 }  // namespace rosbag2_compression
diff --git a/rosbag2_compression/src/rosbag2_compression/sequential_compression_writer.cpp b/rosbag2_compression/src/rosbag2_compression/sequential_compression_writer.cpp
index c3d6277ae4..54b94d42bb 100644
--- a/rosbag2_compression/src/rosbag2_compression/sequential_compression_writer.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_compression/src/rosbag2_compression/sequential_compression_writer.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <chrono>
+#include <cstring>
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
 #include <stdexcept>
@@ -33,6 +34,12 @@
 #include "rosbag2_storage/storage_interfaces/read_write_interface.hpp"
 
 #include "logging.hpp"
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include <windows.h>
+#else
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sys/resource.h>
+#endif
 
 namespace rosbag2_compression
 {
@@ -62,6 +69,45 @@ SequentialCompressionWriter::~SequentialCompressionWriter()
 
 void SequentialCompressionWriter::compression_thread_fn()
 {
+  if (compression_options_.thread_priority) {
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    // This must match THREAD_PRIORITY_IDLE, THREAD_PRIORITY_LOWEST...
+    int wanted_thread_priority = *compression_options_.thread_priority;
+    if (!SetThreadPriority(GetCurrentThread(), wanted_thread_priority)) {
+      ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION_LOG_WARN_STREAM(
+        "Could not set thread priority of compression thread to: " << wanted_thread_priority <<
+          ". Error code: " << GetLastError());
+    } else {
+      auto detected_thread_priority = GetThreadPriority(GetCurrentThread());
+      if (detected_thread_priority == THREAD_PRIORITY_ERROR_RETURN) {
+        ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION_LOG_WARN_STREAM(
+          "Failed to get current thread priority. Error code: " << GetLastError());
+      } else if (wanted_thread_priority != detected_thread_priority) {
+        ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION_LOG_WARN_STREAM(
+          "Could not set thread priority of compression thread to: " <<
+            wanted_thread_priority << ". Detected thread priority: " << detected_thread_priority);
+      }
+    }
+#else
+    int wanted_nice_value = *compression_options_.thread_priority;
+
+    errno = 0;
+    int cur_nice_value = getpriority(PRIO_PROCESS, 0);
+    if (cur_nice_value == -1 && errno != 0) {
+      ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION_LOG_WARN_STREAM(
+        "Could not set nice value of compression thread to: " << wanted_nice_value <<
+          " : Could not determine cur nice value");
+    } else {
+      int new_nice_value = nice(wanted_nice_value - cur_nice_value);
+      if ((new_nice_value == -1 && errno != 0)) {
+        ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION_LOG_WARN_STREAM(
+          "Could not set nice value of compression thread to: " << wanted_nice_value <<
+            ". Error : " << std::strerror(errno));
+      }
+    }
+#endif
+  }
+
   // Every thread needs to have its own compression context for thread safety.
   auto compressor = compression_factory_->create_compressor(
     compression_options_.compression_format);
diff --git a/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compression_factory.hpp b/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compression_factory.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fa1b9f3f35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compression_factory.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+// Copyright 2023 Open Source Robotics Foundation, Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#ifndef ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION__FAKE_COMPRESSION_FACTORY_HPP_
+#define ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION__FAKE_COMPRESSION_FACTORY_HPP_
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+
+#include "rosbag2_compression/compression_factory.hpp"
+#include "fake_compressor.hpp"
+
+class ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION_EXPORT FakeCompressionFactory
+  : public rosbag2_compression::CompressionFactory
+{
+public:
+  FakeCompressionFactory() = delete;
+
+  ~FakeCompressionFactory() override = default;
+
+  explicit FakeCompressionFactory(int & detected_thread_priority)
+  : detected_thread_priority_(detected_thread_priority) {}
+
+  std::shared_ptr<rosbag2_compression::BaseCompressorInterface>
+  create_compressor(const std::string & /*compression_format*/) override
+  {
+    return std::make_shared<FakeCompressor>(detected_thread_priority_);
+  }
+
+private:
+  int & detected_thread_priority_;
+};
+
+#endif  // ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION__FAKE_COMPRESSION_FACTORY_HPP_
diff --git a/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compressor.cpp b/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compressor.cpp
index 8c97ccfa23..01a5e9f0fd 100644
--- a/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compressor.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compressor.cpp
@@ -13,11 +13,27 @@
 // limitations under the License.
 
 #include <string>
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include <windows.h>
+#else
+#include <sys/resource.h>
+#endif
 
 #include "pluginlib/class_list_macros.hpp"
-
 #include "fake_compressor.hpp"
 
+FakeCompressor::FakeCompressor(int & detected_thread_priority)
+{
+#ifndef _WIN32
+  int cur_nice_value = getpriority(PRIO_PROCESS, 0);
+  if (cur_nice_value != -1 && errno == 0) {
+    detected_thread_priority = cur_nice_value;
+  }
+#else
+  detected_thread_priority = GetThreadPriority(GetCurrentThread());
+#endif
+}
+
 std::string FakeCompressor::compress_uri(const std::string & uri)
 {
   return uri + "." + get_compression_identifier();
diff --git a/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compressor.hpp b/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compressor.hpp
index 01c6bb5be0..d641c97be0 100644
--- a/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compressor.hpp
+++ b/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/fake_compressor.hpp
@@ -20,11 +20,14 @@
 #include "rosbag2_compression/base_compressor_interface.hpp"
 #include "rosbag2_storage/serialized_bag_message.hpp"
 
-class FakeCompressor : public rosbag2_compression::BaseCompressorInterface
+class ROSBAG2_COMPRESSION_EXPORT FakeCompressor : public rosbag2_compression::
+  BaseCompressorInterface
 {
 public:
   FakeCompressor() = default;
 
+  explicit FakeCompressor(int & detected_thread_priority);
+
   std::string compress_uri(const std::string & uri) override;
 
   void compress_serialized_bag_message(
diff --git a/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/test_sequential_compression_writer.cpp b/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/test_sequential_compression_writer.cpp
index 535ceb35a2..da611b5ab8 100644
--- a/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/test_sequential_compression_writer.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_compression/test/rosbag2_compression/test_sequential_compression_writer.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@
 #include "mock_storage_factory.hpp"
 
 #include "mock_compression_factory.hpp"
+#include "fake_compression_factory.hpp"
+
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include <windows.h>
+#else
+#include <sys/time.h>
+#include <sys/resource.h>
+#endif
 
 using namespace testing;  // NOLINT
 
@@ -143,13 +151,15 @@ class SequentialCompressionWriterTest : public TestWithParam<uint64_t>
 
   const uint64_t kDefaultCompressionQueueSize = 1;
   const uint64_t kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads = 4;
+  const std::optional<int32_t> kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority = std::nullopt;
 };
 
 TEST_F(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, open_throws_on_empty_storage_options_uri)
 {
   rosbag2_compression::CompressionOptions compression_options{
     DefaultTestCompressor, rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::FILE,
-    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads};
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority};
   initializeWriter(compression_options);
 
   EXPECT_THROW(
@@ -163,7 +173,8 @@ TEST_F(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, open_throws_on_bad_compression_format)
 {
   rosbag2_compression::CompressionOptions compression_options{
     "bad_format", rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::FILE,
-    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads};
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority};
   initializeWriter(compression_options);
 
   EXPECT_THROW(
@@ -175,7 +186,8 @@ TEST_F(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, open_throws_on_invalid_splitting_size)
 {
   rosbag2_compression::CompressionOptions compression_options{
     DefaultTestCompressor, rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::FILE,
-    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads};
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority};
 
   // Set minimum file size greater than max bagfile size option
   const uint64_t min_split_file_size = 10;
@@ -196,7 +208,8 @@ TEST_F(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, open_succeeds_on_supported_compression_f
 {
   rosbag2_compression::CompressionOptions compression_options{
     DefaultTestCompressor, rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::FILE,
-    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads};
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority};
   initializeWriter(compression_options);
 
   auto tmp_dir = rcpputils::fs::temp_directory_path() / "path_not_empty";
@@ -211,7 +224,8 @@ TEST_F(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, writer_calls_create_compressor)
 {
   rosbag2_compression::CompressionOptions compression_options{
     DefaultTestCompressor, rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::FILE,
-    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads};
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueSize, kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority};
   auto compression_factory = std::make_unique<StrictMock<MockCompressionFactory>>();
   EXPECT_CALL(*compression_factory, create_compressor(_)).Times(1);
 
@@ -235,7 +249,8 @@ TEST_F(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, writer_creates_correct_metadata_relative
     DefaultTestCompressor,
     rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::FILE,
     kDefaultCompressionQueueSize,
-    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority
   };
 
   initializeFakeFileStorage();
@@ -277,7 +292,8 @@ TEST_F(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, writer_call_metadata_update_on_open_and_
     DefaultTestCompressor,
     rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::MESSAGE,
     0,
-    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority
   };
 
   initializeFakeFileStorage();
@@ -315,7 +331,8 @@ TEST_F(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, writer_call_metadata_update_on_bag_split
     DefaultTestCompressor,
     rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::MESSAGE,
     0,
-    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority
   };
 
   initializeFakeFileStorage();
@@ -363,7 +380,8 @@ TEST_P(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, writer_writes_with_compression_queue_siz
     DefaultTestCompressor,
     rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::MESSAGE,
     kCompressionQueueSize,
-    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreadsPriority
   };
 
   initializeFakeFileStorage();
@@ -384,6 +402,60 @@ TEST_P(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, writer_writes_with_compression_queue_siz
   EXPECT_EQ(fake_storage_size_, kNumMessagesToWrite);
 }
 
+TEST_P(SequentialCompressionWriterTest, writer_sets_threads_priority)
+{
+  const std::string test_topic_name = "test_topic";
+  const std::string test_topic_type = "test_msgs/BasicTypes";
+  const uint64_t kCompressionQueueSize = GetParam();
+#ifndef _WIN32
+  const int32_t wanted_thread_priority = 10;
+  errno = 0;
+  int cur_nice_value = getpriority(PRIO_PROCESS, 0);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(!(cur_nice_value == -1 && errno != 0));
+#else
+  const int32_t wanted_thread_priority = THREAD_PRIORITY_LOWEST;
+  auto current_thread_priority = GetThreadPriority(GetCurrentThread());
+  ASSERT_NE(current_thread_priority, THREAD_PRIORITY_ERROR_RETURN);
+  ASSERT_NE(current_thread_priority, wanted_thread_priority);
+#endif
+
+  // queue size should be 0 or at least the number of remaining messages to prevent message loss
+  rosbag2_compression::CompressionOptions compression_options {
+    DefaultTestCompressor,
+    rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::MESSAGE,
+    kCompressionQueueSize,
+    kDefaultCompressionQueueThreads,
+    wanted_thread_priority
+  };
+
+#ifndef _WIN32
+  // nice values are in the range from -20 to +19, so this value will never be read
+  int32_t detected_thread_priority = 100;
+#else
+  int32_t detected_thread_priority = THREAD_PRIORITY_ERROR_RETURN;
+#endif
+
+  initializeFakeFileStorage();
+  initializeWriter(
+    compression_options,
+    std::make_unique<FakeCompressionFactory>(detected_thread_priority));
+
+  writer_->open(tmp_dir_storage_options_);
+  writer_->create_topic({test_topic_name, test_topic_type, "", {}, ""});
+
+  auto message = std::make_shared<rosbag2_storage::SerializedBagMessage>();
+  message->topic_name = test_topic_name;
+
+  const size_t kNumMessagesToWrite = 5;
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < kNumMessagesToWrite; i++) {
+    writer_->write(message);
+  }
+  writer_.reset();    // reset will call writer destructor
+
+  EXPECT_EQ(detected_thread_priority, *compression_options.thread_priority);
+  EXPECT_EQ(fake_storage_size_, kNumMessagesToWrite);
+}
+
 INSTANTIATE_TEST_SUITE_P(
   SequentialCompressionWriterTestQueueSizes,
   SequentialCompressionWriterTest,
diff --git a/rosbag2_performance/rosbag2_performance_benchmarking/src/writer_benchmark.cpp b/rosbag2_performance/rosbag2_performance_benchmarking/src/writer_benchmark.cpp
index 13c936d322..e5f621faf3 100644
--- a/rosbag2_performance/rosbag2_performance_benchmarking/src/writer_benchmark.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_performance/rosbag2_performance_benchmarking/src/writer_benchmark.cpp
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ void WriterBenchmark::create_writer()
   if (!bag_config_.compression_format.empty()) {
     rosbag2_compression::CompressionOptions compression_options{
       bag_config_.compression_format, rosbag2_compression::CompressionMode::MESSAGE,
-      bag_config_.compression_queue_size, bag_config_.compression_threads};
+      bag_config_.compression_queue_size, bag_config_.compression_threads, std::nullopt};
 
     writer_ = std::make_unique<rosbag2_compression::SequentialCompressionWriter>(
       compression_options);
diff --git a/rosbag2_transport/include/rosbag2_transport/record_options.hpp b/rosbag2_transport/include/rosbag2_transport/record_options.hpp
index 50621877f8..95bdaaf533 100644
--- a/rosbag2_transport/include/rosbag2_transport/record_options.hpp
+++ b/rosbag2_transport/include/rosbag2_transport/record_options.hpp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ struct RecordOptions
   std::string compression_format = "";
   uint64_t compression_queue_size = 1;
   uint64_t compression_threads = 0;
+  int32_t compression_threads_priority = 0;
   std::unordered_map<std::string, rclcpp::QoS> topic_qos_profile_overrides{};
   bool include_hidden_topics = false;
   bool include_unpublished_topics = false;
diff --git a/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/config_options_from_node_params.cpp b/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/config_options_from_node_params.cpp
index 49dc587ac5..3af2976c9d 100644
--- a/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/config_options_from_node_params.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/config_options_from_node_params.cpp
@@ -235,6 +235,10 @@ RecordOptions get_record_options_from_node_params(rclcpp::Node & node)
     node, "record.compression_threads", 0, std::numeric_limits<int64_t>::max(),
     record_options.compression_threads);
 
+  record_options.compression_threads_priority = param_utils::declare_integer_node_params<int32_t>(
+    node, "record.compression_threads_priority", std::numeric_limits<int32_t>::min(),
+    std::numeric_limits<int32_t>::max(), record_options.compression_threads_priority);
+
   std::string qos_profile_overrides_path =
     node.declare_parameter<std::string>("record.qos_profile_overrides_path", "");
 
diff --git a/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/reader_writer_factory.cpp b/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/reader_writer_factory.cpp
index b1abeae33c..565337590f 100644
--- a/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/reader_writer_factory.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/reader_writer_factory.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ std::unique_ptr<rosbag2_cpp::Writer> ReaderWriterFactory::make_writer(
       record_options.compression_format,
       rosbag2_compression::compression_mode_from_string(record_options.compression_mode),
       record_options.compression_queue_size,
-      record_options.compression_threads
+      record_options.compression_threads,
+      record_options.compression_threads_priority,
     };
     if (compression_options.compression_threads < 1) {
       compression_options.compression_threads = std::thread::hardware_concurrency();
diff --git a/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/record_options.cpp b/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/record_options.cpp
index ec6a0a9813..d593a56502 100644
--- a/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/record_options.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_transport/src/rosbag2_transport/record_options.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ Node convert<rosbag2_transport::RecordOptions>::encode(
   node["compression_format"] = record_options.compression_format;
   node["compression_queue_size"] = record_options.compression_queue_size;
   node["compression_threads"] = record_options.compression_threads;
+  node["compression_threads_priority"] = record_options.compression_threads_priority;
   node["topic_qos_profile_overrides"] =
     convert<std::unordered_map<std::string, rclcpp::QoS>>::encode(
     record_options.topic_qos_profile_overrides);
@@ -66,6 +67,9 @@ bool convert<rosbag2_transport::RecordOptions>::decode(
   optional_assign<std::string>(node, "compression_format", record_options.compression_format);
   optional_assign<uint64_t>(node, "compression_queue_size", record_options.compression_queue_size);
   optional_assign<uint64_t>(node, "compression_threads", record_options.compression_threads);
+  optional_assign<int32_t>(
+    node, "compression_threads_priority",
+    record_options.compression_threads_priority);
 
   std::unordered_map<std::string, rclcpp::QoS> qos_overrides;
   if (node["topic_qos_profile_overrides"]) {
diff --git a/rosbag2_transport/test/resources/recorder_node_params.yaml b/rosbag2_transport/test/resources/recorder_node_params.yaml
index b5ca93b7b1..8fd6123988 100644
--- a/rosbag2_transport/test/resources/recorder_node_params.yaml
+++ b/rosbag2_transport/test/resources/recorder_node_params.yaml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ recorder_params_node:
       compression_format: "h264"
       compression_queue_size: 10
       compression_threads: 2
+      compression_threads_priority: -1
       qos_profile_overrides_path: ""
       include_hidden_topics: true
       include_unpublished_topics: true
diff --git a/rosbag2_transport/test/rosbag2_transport/test_composable_recorder.cpp b/rosbag2_transport/test/rosbag2_transport/test_composable_recorder.cpp
index 54dbbe055e..3b9d494d6c 100644
--- a/rosbag2_transport/test/rosbag2_transport/test_composable_recorder.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_transport/test/rosbag2_transport/test_composable_recorder.cpp
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ TEST_P(ComposableRecorderTests, recorder_can_parse_parameters_from_file) {
   EXPECT_EQ(record_options.compression_format, "h264");
   EXPECT_EQ(record_options.compression_queue_size, 10);
   EXPECT_EQ(record_options.compression_threads, 2);
+  EXPECT_EQ(record_options.compression_threads_priority, -1);
   std::unordered_map<std::string, rclcpp::QoS> topic_qos_profile_overrides{
     std::pair{
       "/overrided_topic_qos",