Management
Compensation and Benefits Managers
Also called: Benefits Coordinator, Benefits Director, Benefits Manager, Compensation and Benefits Director
US median pay
$149,230
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+1.1%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
1,600
23,700 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
What they do 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.
- Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
- Prepare detailed job descriptions and classification systems and define job levels and families, in partnership with other managers.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Time Management3.6/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.5/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Systems Evaluation3.2/5
- Systems Analysis3.2/5
- Management of Financial Resources3.2/5
Knowledge
- 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
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree76%
- Master's degree14%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.