diff --git a/compactor/src/parquet_file.rs b/compactor/src/parquet_file.rs
index c4b56e5596..cf6f1c2897 100644
--- a/compactor/src/parquet_file.rs
+++ b/compactor/src/parquet_file.rs
@@ -111,6 +111,10 @@ impl CompactorParquetFile {
     pub fn table_id(&self) -> TableId {
         self.inner.table_id
     }
+
+    pub fn created_at(&self) -> Timestamp {
+        self.inner.created_at
+    }
 }
 
 impl From<CompactorParquetFile> for ParquetFile {
diff --git a/compactor/src/parquet_file_lookup.rs b/compactor/src/parquet_file_lookup.rs
index c1276309aa..3b85f57748 100644
--- a/compactor/src/parquet_file_lookup.rs
+++ b/compactor/src/parquet_file_lookup.rs
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ impl ParquetFilesForCompaction {
             }
         }
 
-        level_0.sort_by_key(|pf| pf.max_sequence_number());
+        level_0.sort_by_key(|pf| pf.created_at());
         level_1.sort_by_key(|pf| pf.min_time());
 
         Ok(Self {
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use data_types::ColumnType;
     use iox_tests::util::{TestCatalog, TestParquetFileBuilder, TestPartition};
+    use iox_time::{SystemProvider, TimeProvider};
 
     const ARBITRARY_LINE_PROTOCOL: &str = r#"
         table,tag1=WA field_int=1000i 8000
@@ -448,7 +449,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn level_0_files_are_sorted_on_max_seq_num() {
+    async fn level_0_files_are_sorted_on_created_at() {
         test_helpers::maybe_start_logging();
         let TestSetup {
             catalog,
@@ -457,19 +458,23 @@ mod tests {
             ..
         } = test_setup().await;
 
-        // Create a level 0 file, max seq = 100
-        let builder = TestParquetFileBuilder::default()
-            .with_line_protocol(ARBITRARY_LINE_PROTOCOL)
-            .with_compaction_level(CompactionLevel::Initial)
-            .with_max_seq(100);
-        let l0_max_seq_100 = partition.create_parquet_file(builder).await;
+        let time_provider = SystemProvider::new();
+        let one_hour_ago = time_provider.hours_ago(1);
+        let ten_munites_ago = time_provider.minutes_ago(10);
 
-        // Create a level 0 file, max seq = 50
+        // Create a level 0 file 10 minutes ago
         let builder = TestParquetFileBuilder::default()
             .with_line_protocol(ARBITRARY_LINE_PROTOCOL)
             .with_compaction_level(CompactionLevel::Initial)
-            .with_max_seq(50);
-        let l0_max_seq_50 = partition.create_parquet_file(builder).await;
+            .with_creation_time(ten_munites_ago);
+        let l0_ten_minutes_ago = partition.create_parquet_file(builder).await;
+
+        // Create a level 0 file one hour ago
+        let builder = TestParquetFileBuilder::default()
+            .with_line_protocol(ARBITRARY_LINE_PROTOCOL)
+            .with_compaction_level(CompactionLevel::Initial)
+            .with_creation_time(one_hour_ago);
+        let l0_one_hour_ago = partition.create_parquet_file(builder).await;
 
         // Create a level 1 file
         let builder = TestParquetFileBuilder::default()
@@ -488,23 +493,24 @@ mod tests {
         .await
         .unwrap();
 
-        let l0_max_seq_50_file_size_in_mem = 5 * l0_max_seq_50.parquet_file.file_size_bytes as u64;
-        let l0_max_seq_100_file_size_in_mem =
-            5 * l0_max_seq_100.parquet_file.file_size_bytes as u64;
+        let l0_ten_minutes_ago_file_size_in_mem =
+            5 * l0_ten_minutes_ago.parquet_file.file_size_bytes as u64;
+        let l0_one_hour_ago_file_size_in_mem =
+            5 * l0_one_hour_ago.parquet_file.file_size_bytes as u64;
         let l1_file_size_in_mem = 5 * l1.parquet_file.file_size_bytes as u64;
 
         assert_eq!(
             parquet_files_for_compaction.level_0,
             vec![
                 CompactorParquetFile::new(
-                    l0_max_seq_50.parquet_file,
+                    l0_one_hour_ago.parquet_file,
                     0,
-                    l0_max_seq_50_file_size_in_mem
+                    l0_one_hour_ago_file_size_in_mem
                 ),
                 CompactorParquetFile::new(
-                    l0_max_seq_100.parquet_file,
+                    l0_ten_minutes_ago.parquet_file,
                     0,
-                    l0_max_seq_100_file_size_in_mem
+                    l0_ten_minutes_ago_file_size_in_mem
                 ),
             ]
         );