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Human Resources & ConsultingStable

Compensation and Benefits Manager

Mid-level

Also known as: Benefits Admin (Benefits Administrator), Benefits Advisor, Benefits Coordinator, Benefits Director

Human Resources & ConsultingBachelor's Degree

Job Description

As a Compensation and Benefits Manager, you design and manage how employees are paid and what benefits they receive, like health insurance and retirement plans. You work in an office setting, spending much of your time at a desk, communicating through email and phone. You'll lead face-to-face discussions with HR teams and employees, setting goals and priorities for compensation strategies. This role suits someone analytical, organized, and excellent at communication and critical thinking.
Compensation ManagementBenefits AdministrationHuman ResourcesTotal RewardsBusinessManagementFinanceLeadership

A Day in the Life

You arrive at the sleek glass-and-steel office building in downtown Atlanta, grabbing coffee before heading to your desk. Your monitor flickers to life, displaying a cascade of emails in Microsoft Outlook. The first hour is a blur of sifting through urgent requests, reviewing yesterday's benefits enrollment reports in Workday, and prioritizing your day's tasks. A reminder pops up for a compensation strategy meeting later this morning, requiring some preliminary data checks.

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies
Adobe IllustratorAdobe PhotoshopIntuit QuickBooksMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WordOracle PeopleSoftSAP softwareStructured query language SQLWorkday software
In-demand software
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointOracle HRISWorkday software

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Projected growth

+1.1%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

1,600

per year (US)

Jobs today

23,700

in 2025 → 24,000 (2035)

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication
High
Working in a team
High
Contact with others
High
Freedom to make decisions
High
Time pressure
Moderate
Time spent sitting
High
Working outdoors
Low
Indoor, climate-controlled
High
Dealing with customers
Moderate
Level of competition
Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Stable Job Market

The job outlook for Compensation and Benefits Managers is stable, with around 1,600 openings each year through 2035. You can grow your career from roles like a Compensation Analyst or HR Specialist, potentially advancing to positions such as a Human Resources Director or Vice President of Human Resources.

Career ladder

Often before this role

  • Compensation Analyst
  • Benefits Administrator
  • HR Specialist

Where it can lead

  • Human Resources Director
  • Vice President of Human Resources
  • Total Rewards Director

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will significantly automate data collection, compliance checks, and routine reporting, freeing Compensation and Benefits Managers from administrative tasks. Their role will evolve to focus more on interpreting advanced analytics for strategic decision-making, such as predictive modeling for salary trends, personalized benefits design, and talent retention. This shift requires them to develop skills in data analysis, strategic planning, and optimizing total rewards programs to align with business goals.

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Salary

$149,230

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position

Relevant Studies

Based on job level & field

Human Resources

Bachelor • Business & Economics • 4 years

Human Resources Management

University • Business & Economics • 4 years

Business Administration

Bachelor • Business & Economics • 4 years

Financial Management

University • Business & Economics • 4 years

Actuarial Science

Bachelor • Business & Economics • 4 years

Insurance

Bachelor • Business & Economics • 4 years

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