Compensation and Benefits Managers Career, Salary and Skills
Compensation and Benefits Managers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $149,230 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 22,940. Wage data is published for 136 locations.
Occupation description
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
O*NET code
11-3111.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$149,230
Hourly median
$71.75
Employment
22,940
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$89,160
10th
$113,170
25th
$149,230
Median
$200,610
75th
$256,570
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Time Management | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.50 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Direct preparation and distribution of written and verbal information to inform employees of benefits, compensation, and personnel policies.
Technology
- Adobe PageMaker
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- !Trak-it Solutions !Trak-it HR
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- ADP Employease
- ADP HR/Benefits Solution
- ADP Workforce Now
- AdRelevance
- Apex Business Software iHR
- Apple iMovie
- Ascentis HR
- ASL HR Director
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in CAMedian $166,730 · Employment 2,970
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in New York, NYMedian $179,730 · Employment 2,420
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in NYMedian $175,620 · Employment 2,260
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in TXMedian $136,930 · Employment 2,230
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in FLMedian $127,960 · Employment 1,670
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $155,380 · Employment 1,030
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in GAMedian $163,060 · Employment 1,010
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in NJMedian $168,370 · Employment 950
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in NCMedian $135,240 · Employment 880
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $145,930 · Employment 790
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in ILMedian $151,730 · Employment 780
- Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary in PAMedian $139,040 · Employment 770
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- Administrative Services ManagersNational median $114,130
- Social and Community Service ManagersNational median $80,390
- Compliance ManagersNational median $141,900
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- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersNational median $69,500
- Management AnalystsNational median $101,860
- Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksNational median $58,260
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.