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Benefits manager: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$149,230median pay per year, or $71.75 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $89,160lowest 10% earn less
  2. $113,17025th percentile
  3. $149,230median
  4. $200,61075th percentile
  5. $256,570top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A benefits manager, which BLS calls a compensation and benefits manager, had a median pay of $149,230 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.1%[2]
Openings per year
1,600[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do benefits managers make?

In May 2025, the median pay for compensation and benefits managers was $149,230 a year, or $71.75 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $162,640 a year, or $78.19 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980 a year[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $89,160 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $113,170[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $200,610, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $256,570[4]. In hourly terms, those four marks were $42.86, $54.41, $96.45 and $123.35[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentiles rather than a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary jobs. They leave out self-employed workers, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 22,940 people held these jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Among 44 states and DC with published data, Washington had the highest median at $199,190[13]. Connecticut followed at $197,970, then Massachusetts at $184,070, New York at $175,620 and New Jersey at $168,370[13]. Mississippi had the lowest median in that list at $89,250[13].

California had the most jobs at 2,970[14]. New York had 2,260, Texas 2,230, Florida 1,670 and Georgia 1,010[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT had the highest median at $218,860[15]. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA followed at $216,580, then San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $215,180[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs at 2,420[16].

Show median pay in 44 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$199,190460
Connecticut$197,970480
Massachusetts$184,070670
New York$175,6202,260
New Jersey$168,370950
California$166,7302,970
Delaware$166,07050
Colorado$165,770280
Minnesota$163,390360
Georgia$163,0601,010
Oregon$161,470240
District of Columbia$160,990130
Virginia$153,660n/a
Illinois$151,730780
Michigan$151,620580
Rhode Island$149,34050
Ohio$141,920460
Maryland$139,860430
Pennsylvania$139,040770
New Hampshire$136,950100
Texas$136,9302,230
North Carolina$135,240880
Tennessee$132,780670
Utah$132,620200
Arizona$129,890510
Maine$129,69050
Florida$127,9601,670
Wisconsin$127,920n/a
New Mexico$124,39040
Alaska$122,49030
Nebraska$121,630140
Alabama$118,47090
Iowa$118,250120
Indiana$118,180170
Nevada$115,180180
Kentucky$114,290110
Kansas$114,07070
Hawaii$110,12060
Oklahoma$107,760180
Missouri$106,490250
Arkansas$100,810140
Louisiana$99,840220
South Carolina$99,630330
Idaho$90,020100
Mississippi$89,25070

How to become a benefits manager

BLS describes the usual route as a mix of schooling and related work experience[17]. The steps look like this:

BLS lists no typical on-the-job training for this occupation[7]. In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 76% said a bachelor's degree was the education level required[22]. Another 14% said a master's degree and 10% said a post-baccalaureate certificate[22].

What benefits managers do

O*NET describes the job as planning, directing and coordinating an organization's pay and benefits work[23]. Common tasks include:

BLS also names analytical, business, communication, decision-making and leadership skills as important for the work[25][26][27][28][29].

Where they work

Benefits managers are found in nearly every industry, and most work in offices[30]. Management of companies and enterprises was the largest employer, with 22% of these managers in 2025[31].

Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[32]. Hours can rise around deadlines, especially during an organization's benefits enrollment period[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects that employment of compensation and benefits managers will grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 23,700 jobs to 24,000, a gain of 300[2]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. For all occupations, BLS projects growth of 3.5% over the same years[3].

BLS expects about 1,600 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.4% of workers leave the labor force and 4.2% move to a different occupation[33].

One factor BLS names is that more pay and benefits work is being outsourced or handled by specialized software, which lowers the share of this work done by these managers[34]. The OEWS count of 22,940 jobs[12] and the projections count of about 23,700[2] measure different things, so they do not match exactly.

Is it a good fit?

Pay is far above the all-occupations median, but the path asks for a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of related experience[1][5][7]. That means managers often reach this job after working in another role first, such as a specialist position[19]. Growth is slower than average, and BLS points to outsourcing and software as a pressure on the field[2][3][34]. Still, about 1,600 openings a year are expected[6]. The work is mostly in offices and usually full time, with busier stretches around enrollment[30][32].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a benefits manager make an hour?
BLS reports a median of $71.75 an hour for compensation and benefits managers in May 2025, with an average of $78.19[1][8].
What degree do you need to be a benefits manager?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, often in business, human resources or a related field[7][18].
How long does it take to become a benefits manager?
BLS lists 5 years or more of related work experience in addition to a bachelor's degree[7].
Is benefits manager a growing job?
Employment is projected to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
What is the highest paying state for benefits managers?
Washington had the highest median among states with published data at $199,190 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Compensation and Benefits Managers in the US was $149,230 per year and $71.75 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Compensation and Benefits Managers is projected to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 23,700 to 24,000 jobs (a change of +300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Compensation and Benefits Managers: 10th percentile $89,160, 25th percentile $113,170, 75th percentile $200,610, 90th percentile $256,570. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,600 openings for Compensation and Benefits Managers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Compensation and Benefits Managers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Compensation and Benefits Managers was $162,640 per year and $78.19 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Compensation and Benefits Managers: 10th percentile $42.86, 25th percentile $54.41, 75th percentile $96.45, 90th percentile $123.35. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 22,940 people were employed as Compensation and Benefits Managers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Compensation and Benefits Managers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Compensation and Benefits Managers jobs: California 2,970; New York 2,260; Texas 2,230; Florida 1,670; Georgia 1,010. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Compensation and Benefits Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $218,860; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $216,580; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $215,180; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $188,850; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $185,590; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $179,730; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $171,950; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $168,850. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Compensation and Benefits Managers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,420 (median $179,730); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,030 (median $155,380); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 790 (median $145,930); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 760 (median $166,100); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 610 (median $155,340); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 590 (median $185,590). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 11-3111.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 76%, Master's Degree 14%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Compensation and Benefits Managers. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Compensation and Benefits Managers. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of compensation and benefits managers in 2025: Management of companies and enterprises 22%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Compensation and Benefits Managers: 2.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Compensation and Benefits Managers: Sourcing change, capital/labor substitution - share decreases as compensation and benefits activities continue to be outsourced or automated through specialized software. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.