Compensation and Benefits Managers
SOC code 11-3111 · O*NET-SOC 11-3111.00 · Considerable preparation needed
Compensation and Benefits Managers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$149,230
a year
Hourly
$71.75
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$162,640
$78.19 per hour
Middle 50%
$113,170 – $200,610
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$89,160 – $256,570
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
22,940
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $89,160
- $42.86/hr
- 25th percentile
- $113,170
- $54.41/hr
- Median percentile
- $149,230
- $71.75/hr
- 75th percentile
- $200,610
- $96.45/hr
- 90th percentile
- $256,570
- $123.35/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
0%
Little or no change expected
20,900
jobs in 2024
20,900
projected for 2034
About 0 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do compensation and benefits managers do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 76% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree76%
- Master's Degree14%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate10%
Common questions
How much does a compensation and benefits managers earn?
The national median is $149,230 a year. The full range runs from $89,160 at the 10th percentile to $256,570 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a compensation and benefits managers without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is compensation and benefits managers in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 0% between 2024 and 2034 — little or no change expected. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Active Learning3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Personnel and Human Resources4.3/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Administration and Management4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Economics and Accounting3.4/5
- Mathematics3.3/5
- Administrative3.0/5
- Law and Government3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Management of Personnel Resources, Social Perceptiveness.