Compensation and Benefits Managers in California
Thinking about a career as a Compensation and Benefits Managers in California? Here’s what you need to know. Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization. Job analysis and position description managers are included in “Human Resources Managers” (11-3121).
What do Compensation and Benefits Managers Make in California?
For a compensation and benefits managers working in California, wages run about $160,740 per year (or roughly $77.28/hour).
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $97,020 | $46.64 |
| 25th percentile | $123,390 | $59.32 |
| Median (50th) | $160,740 | $77.28 |
| 75th percentile | $214,680 | $103.21 |
| 90th percentile | n/a | n/a |
The job concentration index in California compared to the national average — is 1.21, meaning that compensation and benefits managers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, compensation and benefits managers earn a median of $107,570 per year ($51.72/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 239,600 compensation and benefits managers in the U.S.. In California alone, approximately 2,840 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 220 compensation and benefits managers.
Top California Metros for Compensation and Benefits Managers
The largest metro-area employers of compensation and benefits managers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 920 | $148,870 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 610 | $176,740 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 350 | $220,680 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 200 | $151,190 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 130 | $143,480 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 120 | $131,650 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 50 | $165,500 |
| Fresno, CA | 40 | $127,080 |
Top States for Compensation and Benefits Managers Employment
These states have the highest employment of compensation and benefits managers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 2,840 |
| Texas | 1,950 |
| New York | 1,760 |
| Florida | 1,480 |
| Georgia | 870 |
| New Jersey | 810 |
| North Carolina | 750 |
| Pennsylvania | 710 |
| Massachusetts | 670 |
| Illinois | 520 |
| Washington | 510 |
| Tennessee | 480 |
| Virginia | 480 |
| Michigan | 470 |
| Wisconsin | 450 |
| Ohio | 410 |
| Maryland | 370 |
| Connecticut | 330 |
| Minnesota | 310 |
| Missouri | 270 |
Highest-Paying States for Compensation and Benefits Managers
The highest-paying states for compensation and benefits managers.
| 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 |
Skills
The most important compensation and benefits managers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for compensation and benefits managers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Compensation and Benefits Managers typically:
- 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.
- Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
- Prepare detailed job descriptions and classification systems and define job levels and families, in partnership with other managers.
- Develop methods to improve employment policies, processes, and practices, and recommend changes to management.
- Formulate policies, procedures and programs for recruitment, testing, placement, classification, orientation, benefits and compensation, and labor and industrial relations.
Work Activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Getting Information
- Working with Computers
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Developing Objectives and Strategies
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Processing Information
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Intuit QuickBooks In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Business Administration & Management
- Human Resource Management
- Insurance
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Related Careers
Related occupations to compensation and benefits managers include:
- Financial Managers
- Treasurers and Controllers
- Human Resources Managers
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Compliance Managers
Also Known As
Benefits Admin (Benefits Administrator), Benefits Advisor, Benefits Coordinator, Benefits Director, Benefits Manager, Compensation Director, Compensation Manager, Compensation Program Manager, Compensation and Benefits Director, Compensation and Benefits Manager, Employee Benefits Account Manager, Employee Benefits Coordinator, Employee Benefits Director, Employee Benefits Manager, Global Benefits Manager.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 11-3111.00