Compensation and Benefits Specialist
Analyze pay and run benefits programs so employees are paid fairly.
- $78,210
- Some HR experience
Business & Office career
Compensation and Benefits Manager
Also called: Total Rewards Manager · Compensation Manager · Benefits Manager · Director of Total Rewards
What compensation and benefits managers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a compensation and benefits manager do?
Compensation and benefits managers plan, develop and oversee programs that determine how much an organization pays its employees and how employees are paid, along with benefits. The median pay is $149,230 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 5+ years of experience, and employment is projected to grow +1.1% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$149,230$71.75/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+1.1%2025–35, slower than average
- Openings per year1,600Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to train5+ years of experienceTypical program length
- U.S. jobs23,700Employment, 2025
What compensation and benefits managers do
Compensation and benefits managers design pay and benefits. They set salary ranges, analyze market pay, run bonus and raise programs, choose health and retirement plans, manage benefits vendors and make sure programs follow laws.
Most have a bachelor’s degree in HR, business or finance and five or more years of experience.
Typical duties
- Design pay structures
- Analyze market pay data
- Run annual raise and bonus cycles
- Select and manage benefit plans
- Manage benefits vendors
- Ensure legal compliance
- Communicate programs to employees
Work environment and schedule
Managers work in offices, often in large organizations.
Schedule: Full time, busier during open enrollment and raise cycles.
A day in the life
- Review salary survey data.
- Meet the health insurance broker.
- Price a new job.
- Plan open enrollment.
See a full day in the life of a compensation and benefits manager →
Compensation and Benefits Manager salary
Half of compensation and benefits managers earned more than $149,230 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $89,160 for the lowest 10% to $256,570 for the top 10%.
Full compensation and benefits manager pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a compensation and benefits manager
- Earn a bachelor’s
- Work as an HR or comp analyst
- Earn the CCP or CEBS
- Lead programs
- Become a manager
A bachelor’s degree in human resources, business or finance is typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a compensation and benefits manager →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Compensation design
- Benefits administration
- Market pricing
- Data analysis
- Benefits law
People skills
- Confidentiality
- Communication
- Judgment
- Analytical thinking
All compensation and benefits manager skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- High pay
- Analytical and people work
- Strategic role
- Office hours
Cons
- Slow growth
- Complex regulations
- Sensitive conversations
- Busy seasons
Certifications and licenses
- CCP: Certified Compensation Professional.
- CBP: Certified Benefits Professional.
- CEBS: Certified Employee Benefit Specialist.
- SHRM-SCP: Senior HR credential.
Career path
- Compensation Analyst: Entry.
- Senior Analyst: Lead projects.
- Compensation and Benefits Manager: Lead programs.
- VP Total Rewards: Lead strategy.
Learn the job before day one
Our Compensation and Benefits Manager training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as build a salary range for a new job and run an open enrollment period, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Compensation and Benefits Manager vs. Compensation and Benefits Specialist · Compensation and Benefits Manager vs. Human Resources Manager · Compensation and Benefits Manager vs. HR Specialist · Compensation and Benefits Manager vs. Payroll Clerk
Compensation and Benefits Manager FAQ
What does a compensation manager do?
Designs pay structures, raises and bonuses.
Is the CCP useful?
Yes, it’s a respected credential.
Is the job growing?
BLS projects slow growth.
How much does a compensation and benefits manager make?
The median annual wage for compensation and benefits managers was $149,230 ($71.75 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $89,160 and the highest 10% earned more than $256,570.
How long does it take to become a compensation and benefits manager?
Most people need about 5+ years of experience of training. A bachelor’s degree in human resources, business or finance is typical.
Do you need a degree to be a compensation and benefits manager?
Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.
More compensation and benefits manager questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 11-3111 (Compensation and benefits managers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Compensation and benefits managers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.