Compensation and Benefits Specialist
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Conduct programs of compensation and benefits and job analysis for employer. May specialize in specific areas, such as position classification and pension programs.
Also called: Benefits Analyst · Benefits Consultant · Benefits Specialist · Compensation Analyst · Compensation Consultant · Compensation Specialist · Compensation and Benefits Analyst · Compensation and Benefits Specialist
O*NET-SOC 13-1141.00 (Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists)
Compensation and Benefits Specialist salary
Wages for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $37.60.
Compensation and Benefits Specialist pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $60,070 | $91,410 | $150,180 |
| Texas | $49,570 | $74,800 | $121,790 |
| Florida | $42,990 | $65,020 | $109,480 |
| New York | $58,740 | $83,200 | $131,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,400 | $70,640 | $120,830 |
| Illinois | $55,190 | $79,300 | $128,720 |
| Ohio | $46,790 | $75,780 | $109,970 |
| Georgia | $42,030 | $66,690 | $122,130 |
| North Carolina | $47,590 | $67,970 | $127,490 |
| Michigan | $52,470 | $79,480 | $127,870 |
Compensation and Benefits Specialist job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 118,100 jobs in 2025 to 125,200 in 2035 (6% change).
- About 9,000 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Rapid Growth).
How to become a compensation and benefits specialist
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma1.3%
- High school diploma or equivalent8.5%
- Some college, no degree21.7%
- Associate's degree11%
- Bachelor's degree42%
- Master's degree13.7%
- Doctoral or professional degree1.7%
Related training programs
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Finance, General
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
- Insurance
What does a compensation and benefits specialist do?
Common tasks
- Administer employee insurance, pension, and savings plans, working with insurance brokers and plan carriers.
- Ensure company compliance with federal and state laws, including reporting requirements.
- Develop and administer compensation programs, such as merit or incentive pay.
- Research employee benefit and health and safety practices, and recommend changes or modifications to existing policies.
- Prepare occupational classifications, job descriptions, and salary scales.
- Consult with, or serve as, technical liaison between business, industry, government, and union officials.
- Evaluate job positions, determining classification, exempt or non-exempt status, and salary.
- Perform multifactor data and cost analyses that may be used in areas such as support of collective bargaining agreements.
- Develop, implement, administer, and evaluate personnel and labor relations programs, including performance appraisal, affirmative action, and employment equity programs.
- Advise managers and employees on state and federal employment regulations, collective agreements, benefit and compensation policies, personnel procedures, and classification programs.
Most important skills
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
- Active Learning
- Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
- Systems Analysis
- Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Compensation and Benefits Specialist certifications
8 of 24 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Employers Council on Flexible Compensation · Advanced
- International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans · Core
- International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans · Specialty · In demand
- Human Resource Certification Institute · Advanced
- American Bankers Association · Core
- Employers Council on Flexible Compensation · Core
- LOMA · Core
- Employers Council on Flexible Compensation · Core
See all 24certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Compensation and Benefits Specialist jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more human resources jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Human Resources jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
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This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.