Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
Also Known As
- Benefits Manager
- Compensation and Benefits Manager
- Compensation Director
- Compensation Manager
Alternate Job Titles
- Benefits Admin (Benefits Administrator)
- Benefits Advisor
- Benefits Coordinator
- Benefits Director
- Benefits Manager
- Compensation and Benefits Director
- Compensation and Benefits Manager
- Compensation Director
- Compensation Manager
- Compensation Program Manager
- Employee Benefits Account Manager
- Employee Benefits Coordinator
- Employee Benefits Director
- Employee Benefits Manager
- Global Benefits Manager
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Learning
- Time Management
- Management of Personnel Resources
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Clarity
- Speech Recognition
- Deductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Leadership Orientation
- Cautiousness
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Support
- Independence
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SharePoint
Tools & Equipment
- 10-key calculators
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Liquid crystal display LCD video projectors
- Notebook computers
- Optical disk drives
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Photocopying equipment
- Scanners
- Tablet computers
- Universal serial bus USB flash drives
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Sitting
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $81,660 |
| Median | $140,360 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 20,070
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
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Human Resources Specialists
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Human Resources Managers
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Median Salary: $140,030
Labor Relations Specialists
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Median Salary: $93,500
Financial Managers
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Median Salary: $161,700
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.