Compensation and Benefits Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
Also called: Benefits Admin (Benefits Administrator), Benefits Advisor, Benefits Coordinator, Benefits Director, Benefits Manager, Compensation and Benefits Director
Median pay
$149,230
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$89,160 – $256,570
People employed
22,940
Holland code
ECS
Enterprising · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 2.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 3.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 4.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 5.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Compensation and Benefits Managers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (44 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What compensation and benefits managers do
- 01Direct preparation and distribution of written and verbal information to inform employees of benefits, compensation, and personnel policies.
- 02Design, evaluate, and modify benefits policies to ensure that programs are current, competitive, and in compliance with legal requirements.
- 03Fulfill all reporting requirements of all relevant government rules and regulations, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
- 04Analyze compensation policies, government regulations, and prevailing wage rates to develop competitive compensation plan.
- 05Identify and implement benefits to increase the quality of life for employees by working with brokers and researching benefits issues.
- 06Manage the design and development of tools to assist employees in benefits selection, and to guide managers through compensation decisions.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Economics and Accounting
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Leadership Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from compensation and benefits managers
- Compliance Managers84% · group pay
- Medical and Health Services Managers83% · −17%
- Sales Managers81% · −1%
- Chief Executives81% · +43%
- Marketing Managers80% · +12%
Change into compensation and benefits managers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists96% · $78,210
- Human Resources Specialists90% · $75,940
- Labor Relations Specialists90% · $95,420
- Budget Analysts86% · $91,640
- Fundraising Managers86% · $125,470
Majors that lead here
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
- Labor and Industrial Relations
- Organizational Behavior Studies
- Insurance
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.