Compensation and Benefits Manager
Design how an organization pays its people and what benefits they get.
- $149,230
- 5+ years of experience
Business & Office career
Compensation and Benefits Specialist
Also called: Compensation Analyst · Benefits Specialist · Job Analyst · Total Rewards Analyst
What compensation and benefits specialists 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 specialist do?
Compensation, benefits and job analysis specialists conduct programs of compensation and benefits and job analysis for employers. The median pay is $78,210 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Some HR experience, and employment is projected to grow +6.0% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$78,210$37.60/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+6.0%2025–35, faster than average
- Openings per year9,000Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to trainSome HR experienceTypical program length
- U.S. jobs118,100Employment, 2025
What compensation and benefits specialists do
Compensation and benefits specialists do the detailed work behind pay and benefits. They analyze salary surveys, write job descriptions, evaluate jobs, process benefits enrollments, answer employee questions and help managers make pay decisions.
Most have a bachelor’s degree and some HR experience. BLS projects faster than average growth.
Typical duties
- Analyze salary surveys
- Write job descriptions
- Evaluate jobs
- Process benefits enrollments
- Answer employee benefits questions
- Support raise cycles
- Audit pay data
Work environment and schedule
Specialists work in HR offices.
Schedule: Full time, busier during open enrollment and raise season.
A day in the life
- Answer benefits emails.
- Submit a salary survey.
- Price a new job.
- Fix an enrollment error.
See a full day in the life of a compensation and benefits specialist →
Compensation and Benefits Specialist salary
Half of compensation and benefits specialists earned more than $78,210 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $49,480 for the lowest 10% to $128,920 for the top 10%.
Full compensation and benefits specialist pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a compensation and benefits specialist
- Earn a bachelor’s
- Work in HR
- Specialize
- Earn the CCP or CBP
- Advance
A bachelor’s degree in HR, business or a related field is typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a compensation and benefits specialist →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Job analysis
- Salary survey analysis
- Benefits administration
- Excel
- HRIS
People skills
- Confidentiality
- Attention to detail
- Customer service
- Analytical thinking
All compensation and benefits specialist skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Faster-than-average growth
- Analytical work
- Help employees
- Office hours
Cons
- Detail-heavy
- Busy seasons
- Complex rules
- Confidential pressure
Certifications and licenses
- CCP: Certified Compensation Professional.
- CBP: Certified Benefits Professional.
- SHRM-CP: HR credential.
- CEBS: Benefits credential.
Career path
- HR Assistant: Entry.
- Compensation or Benefits Specialist: Analyze.
- Senior Analyst: Lead projects.
- Compensation and Benefits Manager: Lead programs.
Learn the job before day one
Our Compensation and Benefits Specialist training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as write a job description managers will use and age salary survey data, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Compensation and Benefits Specialist vs. Compensation and Benefits Manager · Compensation and Benefits Specialist vs. HR Specialist · Compensation and Benefits Specialist vs. Payroll Clerk · Compensation and Benefits Specialist vs. HR Assistant
Compensation and Benefits Specialist FAQ
What does a compensation specialist do?
Analyzes pay data and supports pay decisions.
Is the job growing?
Yes, BLS projects faster than average growth.
What credential helps?
The CCP or CBP from WorldatWork.
How much does a compensation and benefits specialist make?
The median annual wage for compensation and benefits specialists was $78,210 ($37.60 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $49,480 and the highest 10% earned more than $128,920.
How long does it take to become a compensation and benefits specialist?
Most people need about Some HR experience of training. A bachelor’s degree in HR, business or a related field is typical.
Do you need a degree to be a compensation and benefits specialist?
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 specialist questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 13-1141 (Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists (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.