Compensation and Benefits Managers: Career Profile
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
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What Tasks Do Compensation and Benefits Managers Do?
Typical responsibilities of compensation and benefits managers span:
- Direct preparation and distribution of written and verbal information to inform employees of benefits, compensation, and personnel policies.
- Design, evaluate, and modify benefits policies to ensure that programs are current, competitive, and in compliance with legal requirements.
- Fulfill all reporting requirements of all relevant government rules and regulations, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
- Analyze compensation policies, government regulations, and prevailing wage rates to develop competitive compensation plan.
- Identify and implement benefits to increase the quality of life for employees by working with brokers and researching benefits issues.
- Manage the design and development of tools to assist employees in benefits selection, and to guide managers through compensation decisions.
- Administer, direct, and review employee benefit programs, including the integration of benefit programs following mergers and acquisitions.
- Mediate between benefits providers and employees, such as by assisting in handling employees' benefits-related questions or taking suggestions.
What Compensation and Benefits Managers Need to Know
Top compensation and benefits managers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Compensation and Benefits Managers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Benefits Admin (Benefits Administrator)
- Benefits Advisor
- Benefits Coordinator
- Benefits Director
- Benefits Manager
- Compensation Director
- Compensation Manager
- Compensation Program Manager
Job Outlook
There are roughly 239,600 compensation and benefits managers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +6.5% over the projection horizon.
Compensation and Benefits Managers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $107,570 |
| Hourly median | $51.72 |
| 10th percentile | $74,470 |
| 25th percentile | $91,020 |
| 75th percentile | $124,121 |
| 90th percentile | $140,671 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Compensation and Benefits Managers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $206,320 |
| Rhode Island | $183,140 |
| New Jersey | $182,660 |
| Massachusetts | $181,910 |
| New York | $176,390 |
| Virginia | $171,300 |
| District of Columbia | $160,800 |
| California | $160,740 |
| Colorado | $159,570 |
| Connecticut | $147,070 |
| Oregon | $145,630 |
| Minnesota | $143,990 |
| Maryland | $143,910 |
| Maine | $143,090 |
| Wisconsin | $142,360 |
| Georgia | $141,200 |
| Michigan | $139,670 |
| Texas | $136,610 |
| Utah | $132,920 |
| New Hampshire | $132,240 |
| Ohio | $128,460 |
| Illinois | $127,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $125,790 |
| North Carolina | $125,650 |
| Tennessee | $122,490 |
| Alaska | $119,380 |
| Florida | $114,030 |
| Alabama | $110,450 |
| Indiana | $110,300 |
| Nebraska | $109,950 |
| Kansas | $108,790 |
| Idaho | $108,600 |
| Kentucky | $108,100 |
| Iowa | $106,500 |
| New Mexico | $104,840 |
| Arkansas | $102,370 |
| Oklahoma | $99,310 |
| Missouri | $97,530 |
| Hawaii | $95,260 |
| West Virginia | $94,990 |
| South Carolina | $93,890 |
| Louisiana | $92,710 |
| Mississippi | $89,830 |
| Puerto Rico | $79,330 |
Where Compensation and Benefits Managers Earn the Most
Earnings for compensation and benefits managers shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $164,494 | 19.8% | 1.30 |
| Far Western US | $164,099 | 19.3% | 1.17 |
| New England | $162,200 | 6.1% | 1.33 |
| Rocky Mountains | $144,292 | 2.2% | 0.64 |
| Southwest | $133,912 | 11.0% | 1.04 |
| Great Lakes | $132,730 | 10.4% | 0.78 |
| Southeast | $123,820 | 26.1% | 1.09 |
| Plains States | $116,958 | 4.9% | 0.80 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $220,680 | 350 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $214,220 | 400 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $199,680 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $183,770 | 1,960 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | AR | $182,090 | 50 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $181,910 | 580 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $179,510 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $176,740 | 610 |
Industry Breakdown
Most compensation and benefits managers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 4,560 | $156,480 |
| Finance and Insurance | 3,820 | $147,310 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,610 | $165,880 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,280 | $128,680 |
| Educational Services | 1,180 | $120,280 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,140 | $109,300 |
| Manufacturing | 980 | $164,140 |
| Information | 850 | $184,780 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft SQL Server (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of compensation and benefits managers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Sitting
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How to Become Compensation and Benefits Managers
Most compensation and benefits managers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Financial Managers (Primary-Short)
- Treasurers and Controllers (Primary-Long)
- Human Resources Managers (Primary-Short)
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Compliance Managers (Supplemental)
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (Primary-Long)
- Human Resources Specialists (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Students preparing for compensation and benefits managers typically earn programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
5 programs across 3 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-3111.00 (Compensation and Benefits Managers).
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