Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary
Management Occupations · 23K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$149,230
Median hourly
$72
Average annual
$162,640
Typical range
$89,160–$256,570
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Compensation and Benefits Managers is $149,230 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $72 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization..
Most earn between $89,160 and $256,570 a year. There are roughly 23K people employed as compensation and benefits managers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Compensation and Benefits Managers.
- Hourly
- $71.75
- Daily
- $574
- Weekly
- $2,870
- Bi-weekly
- $5,740
- Monthly
- $12,436
- Annual
- $149,230
$149,230 a year is around the 50th percentile for Compensation and Benefits Managerss. The median is $149,230.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$199,190
- 2Connecticut$197,970
- 3Massachusetts$184,070
- 4New York$175,620
- 5New Jersey$168,370
- 6California$166,730
- 7Delaware$166,070
- 8Colorado$165,770
- 9Minnesota$163,390
- 10Georgia$163,060
- 11Oregon$161,470
- 12District of Columbia$160,990
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR$221,800
- 2Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$218,860
- 3Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$216,580
- 4San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$215,180
- 5San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$188,850
- 6Trenton-Princeton, NJ$186,700
- 7Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$185,590
- 8New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$179,730
- 9Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$171,950
- 10Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$168,850
- 11Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$168,540
- 12Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$167,450
Related job titles
Employers advertise Compensation and Benefits Managers roles under these titles.
- Benefits Admin (Benefits Administrator)
- Benefits Advisor
- 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 Compensation Director
- Global Compensation Manager
- Payroll and Benefits Manager
Related occupations
What a Compensation and Benefits Managers does
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Compensation and Benefits Managers make?
- The median annual wage for Compensation and Benefits Managers is $149,230 ($72 per hour). Pay ranges from about $89,160 at the 10th percentile to $256,570 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Compensation and Benefits Managers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $162,640, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Compensation and Benefits Managerss the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $199,190.
- Is Compensation and Benefits Managers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 23K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Compensation and Benefits Managers do?
- 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)..