What Do Compensation and Benefits Manager Do?
Job Description & Duties Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
What Do Compensation and Benefits Managers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
- Plan and conduct new-employee orientations to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives.
- Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
- Direct preparation and distribution of written and verbal information to inform employees of benefits, compensation, and personnel policies.
- Administer, direct, and review employee benefit programs, including the integration of benefit programs following mergers and acquisitions.
- Analyze statistical data and reports to identify and determine causes of personnel problems and develop recommendations for improvement of organization’s personnel policies and practices.
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Qualities of a Benefits Manager
When polled, Compensation and Benefits Managers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Types of Compensation and Benefits Manager
- Benefits Advisor
- Job Analysis Manager
- Personnel Manager
- Field Advisor
- Reimbursement Manager
Is There Going to be Demand for Compensation and Benefits Managers?
In the United States, there were 15,800 jobs for Compensation and Benefits Manager in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.1% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 800 new jobs for Compensation and Benefits Manager by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,200 positions for Benefits Manager per year.

The states with the most job growth for Benefits Manager are Utah, Washington, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, North Dakota, or New Mexico. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Benefits Manager
The typical yearly salary for Compensation and Benefits Managers is somewhere between $70,560 and $205,470.

Compensation and Benefits Managers who work in Delaware, New Jersey, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.
How much do Compensation and Benefits Managers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $108,580 |
Alaska | $101,670 |
Arizona | $105,980 |
Arkansas | $103,740 |
California | $150,480 |
Colorado | $155,570 |
Connecticut | $164,240 |
Delaware | $174,380 |
District of Columbia | $136,050 |
Florida | $108,330 |
Georgia | $125,710 |
Idaho | $87,100 |
Illinois | $126,470 |
Indiana | $102,850 |
Iowa | $113,390 |
Kansas | $112,330 |
Kentucky | $95,820 |
Louisiana | $84,970 |
Maine | $106,200 |
Maryland | $149,160 |
Massachusetts | $131,250 |
Michigan | $133,450 |
Minnesota | $139,350 |
Mississippi | $86,740 |
Missouri | $126,480 |
Nebraska | $118,870 |
Nevada | $121,620 |
New Hampshire | $123,170 |
New Jersey | $174,730 |
New Mexico | $119,050 |
New York | $161,950 |
North Carolina | $128,400 |
Ohio | $128,020 |
Oklahoma | $104,800 |
Oregon | $108,130 |
Pennsylvania | $144,320 |
South Carolina | $102,540 |
Tennessee | $102,550 |
Texas | $118,400 |
Utah | $100,330 |
Virginia | $148,800 |
Washington | $143,180 |
West Virginia | $117,970 |
Wisconsin | $114,280 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Compensation and Benefits Managers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Compensation and Benefits Managers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- IBM Notes
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
How to Become a Benefits Manager
Individuals working as a Compensation and Benefits Manager have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Benefits Manager?

Where Compensation and Benefits Managers Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Similar Careers
Are you already one of the many Compensation and Benefits Manager in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Arunkumar Umapathy via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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