Compensation and benefits managers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $89,160 | $42.86 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $149,230 | $71.75 |
| Mean (average) | $162,640 | $78.19 |
| 90th percentile | $256,570 | $123.35 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Compensation and benefits managers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 46 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $118,470 | $84,090 | $205,840 | 90 | 0.29 |
| Alaska | $122,490 | $69,150 | $154,560 | 30 | 0.66 |
| Arizona | $129,890 | $80,390 | $210,860 | 510 | 1.07 |
| Arkansas | $100,810 | $63,120 | $275,560 | 140 | 0.73 |
| California | $166,730 | $105,840 | $289,910 | 2,970 | 1.1 |
| Colorado | $165,770 | $92,990 | $227,230 | 280 | 0.66 |
| Connecticut | $197,970 | $98,380 | $367,460 | 480 | 1.91 |
| Delaware | $166,070 | $114,950 | $264,990 | 50 | 0.65 |
| District of Columbia | $160,990 | $114,410 | $251,490 | 130 | 1.25 |
| Florida | $127,960 | $79,310 | $206,170 | 1,670 | 1.14 |
| Georgia | $163,060 | $96,540 | $290,070 | 1,010 | 1.4 |
| Hawaii | $110,120 | $76,670 | $171,110 | 60 | 0.69 |
| Idaho | $90,020 | $83,710 | $199,990 | 100 | 0.76 |
| Illinois | $151,730 | $78,420 | $235,730 | 780 | 0.86 |
| Indiana | $118,180 | $80,620 | $189,560 | 170 | 0.37 |
| Iowa | $118,250 | $77,000 | $202,600 | 120 | 0.54 |
| Kansas | $114,070 | $82,890 | $173,240 | 70 | 0.34 |
| Kentucky | $114,290 | $80,850 | $194,170 | 110 | 0.37 |
| Louisiana | $99,840 | $71,620 | $241,390 | 220 | 0.76 |
| Maine | $129,690 | $86,600 | $198,930 | 50 | 0.54 |
| Maryland | $139,860 | $91,730 | $244,050 | 430 | 1.04 |
| Massachusetts | $184,070 | $128,390 | $285,030 | 670 | 1.24 |
| Michigan | $151,620 | $95,800 | $240,790 | 580 | 0.9 |
| Minnesota | $163,390 | $102,690 | $231,830 | 360 | 0.82 |
| Mississippi | $89,250 | $59,030 | $149,990 | 70 | 0.41 |
| Missouri | $106,490 | $81,110 | $204,140 | 250 | 0.57 |
| Nebraska | $121,630 | $83,200 | $183,490 | 140 | 0.9 |
| Nevada | $115,180 | $62,480 | $202,180 | 180 | 0.77 |
| New Hampshire | $136,950 | $90,830 | $200,200 | 100 | 1.02 |
| New Jersey | $168,370 | $111,720 | $259,690 | 950 | 1.51 |
| New Mexico | $124,390 | $74,040 | $248,930 | 40 | 0.32 |
| New York | $175,620 | $114,990 | $287,490 | 2,260 | 1.58 |
| North Carolina | $135,240 | $63,740 | $227,410 | 880 | 1.21 |
| Ohio | $141,920 | $84,580 | $227,440 | 460 | 0.56 |
| Oklahoma | $107,760 | $74,880 | $197,020 | 180 | 0.71 |
| Oregon | $161,470 | $100,400 | $226,250 | 240 | 0.84 |
| Pennsylvania | $139,040 | $92,140 | $225,670 | 770 | 0.86 |
| Puerto Rico | $97,500 | $50,670 | $166,580 | 30 | 0.25 |
| Rhode Island | $149,340 | $93,230 | $264,210 | 50 | 0.7 |
| South Carolina | $99,630 | $61,100 | $211,660 | 330 | 0.97 |
| Tennessee | $132,780 | $83,010 | $258,950 | 670 | 1.37 |
| Texas | $136,930 | $86,550 | $216,890 | 2,230 | 1.07 |
| Utah | $132,620 | $80,990 | $213,870 | 200 | 0.77 |
| Virginia | $153,660 | $110,070 | $281,000 | ||
| Washington | $199,190 | $116,830 | $301,180 | 460 | 0.88 |
| Wisconsin | $127,920 | $86,490 | $214,250 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for compensation and benefits managers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for compensation and benefits managers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Business Administration and Management, General CIP 52.0201
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General CIP 52.1001
- Labor and Industrial Relations CIP 52.1002
- Organizational Behavior Studies CIP 52.1003
- Insurance CIP 52.1701
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Workday software (in demand)
- Oracle HRIS (in demand)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft SQL Server (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Management of Personnel Resources, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Analysis.
Common job titles: Benefits Coordinator, Benefits Director, Benefits Manager, Compensation and Benefits Director, Compensation and Benefits Manager, Compensation Director, Compensation Manager, Employee Benefits Coordinator, Employee Benefits Manager, Payroll Manager.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do compensation and benefits managers make?
The national median annual wage for compensation and benefits managers was $149,230 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $89,160 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $256,570. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do compensation and benefits managers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is compensation and benefits managers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of compensation and benefits managers to change +1.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay compensation and benefits managers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($199,190), Connecticut ($197,970), Massachusetts ($184,070). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.