Salary and Benefits Manager Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Salary and benefits managers must have a college degree in subjects like human resources, public administration, organizational development, industrial relations or human resources administration. One can also earn a technical, liberal arts or business education degree to earn a job as a salary and benefits manager. An advanced degree in labor relations would be an advantage.
Training and Education
Successful employees find it useful to have a bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience. According to recent surveys, 58% of salary and benefits managers had received a degree. Workers with some schooling beyond high school, but not a college degree, total about 28%. A high school degree was all that was needed for 15% of employees.
Job Overview
Salary and benefits managers act as a medium when it is not possible for an organization to maintain close contact between its employees and top management. These managers are involved in handling employee benefit issues, employee queries and interviewing and recruiting new employees. Salary and benefits managers also discuss wages and career progress options with future employees.
Job Requirements
If one wishes to be eligible for the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, he or she needs to successfully complete a range of college-level courses. This will provide salary and benefits managers a specialization in areas including retirement, group benefit and compensation. The World at Work Society of Certified Professionals offers candidates 4 levels of specialization including work life, benefits, compensation and total rewards management practices. This society enables candidates to achieve the designation of Certified Benefits Professional, Certified Compensation Professional, Work-Life Certified Professional and Global Remuneration Professional.
A salary and benefits manager needs to have various skills, including knowledge of computers, teaching, and supervising. Managers are required to have the capacity to speak and write in an effective manner. They should be able to work under pressure and be able to handle conflicting points of view. It is also essential to maintain a fair mind and show integrity and tact. It is equally important to display a pleasant and persuasive personality.
Nature of Work
Salary and benefits managers look after employees’ salary and benefits program. They are also in charge of pension and health insurance plans. Salary and benefits managers are required to keep up with the changing State and Federal regulations and legislation that can affect employees’ benefits.
Salary and benefits managers usually work from an office. However, sometimes they may need to travel for the purpose of interviewing prospective employees.
Area Job Conditions
Looking at salary and benefits managers per capita, Framingham (Massachusetts), State College (Pennsylvania), and Wilmington (Delaware) rise to the top of the list. Riverside (California), Colorado Springs (Colorado), and Virginia Beach (Virginia) have the fewest per capita.
The highest salaries for workers are in and around San Jose (California), Lowell (Massachusetts), and Newark (New Jersey). The lowest-paying areas are South Bend (Indiana), Nashville (Tennessee), and Oklahoma City (Oklahoma).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Salary and benefits managers working less than full time, whether by design or chance, were 3% of the total. If you have this occupation and work on your own rather than for another company, you are part of the 1% of workers who do so.
Salary and Benefits Managers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $93,000 | 80 | -46% |
| Huntsville | $79,000 | 40 | -30% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $83,000 | 40 | -9% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $80,000 | 540 | +1% |
| Tucson | $76,000 | 80 | -23% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $68,000 | 40 | -26% |
| Little Rock | $76,000 | 70 | -26% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $83,000 | 60 | -36% |
| Oakland | $105,000 | 380 | +29% |
| Oxnard | $108,000 | 60 | -28% |
| Riverside | $94,000 | 160 | -56% |
| Sacramento | $97,000 | 230 | -9% |
| San Diego | $101,000 | 340 | -11% |
| San Francisco | $118,000 | 420 | +47% |
| San Jose | $135,000 | 390 | +48% |
| Santa Ana | $98,000 | 480 | +10% |
| Santa Barbara | $82,000 | 30 | -34% |
| Santa Rosa | $74,000 | 60 | +19% |
| Stockton | $111,000 | 50 | -15% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $102,000 | 30 | -57% |
| Denver | $108,000 | 220 | -38% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $99,000 | 300 | +143% |
| Danbury | $78,000 | 40 | +120% |
| Hartford | $82,000 | 330 | +101% |
| New Haven | $77,000 | 120 | +54% |
| Norwich | $73,000 | 70 | +111% |
| Waterbury | $90,000 | 30 | +72% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $111,000 | 240 | +161% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $94,000 | 1,050 | +59% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $111,000 | 30 | -48% |
| Deltona | $98,000 | 40 | -5% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $107,000 | 270 | +29% |
| Jacksonville | $96,000 | 160 | -6% |
| Lakeland | $89,000 | 40 | -25% |
| Miami | $115,000 | 240 | -15% |
| Orlando | $100,000 | 270 | -10% |
| Palm Bay | $98,000 | 40 | -26% |
| Sarasota | $98,000 | 70 | -4% |
| Tallahassee | $88,000 | 40 | -10% |
| Tampa | $107,000 | 280 | -19% |
| West Palm Beach | $104,000 | 140 | -8% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $93,000 | 810 | +19% |
| Augusta | $99,000 | 30 | -47% |
| Savannah | $73,000 | 40 | -1% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $79,000 | 120 | -3% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $87,000 | 110 | +47% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $85,000 | 1,470 | +34% |
| Peoria | $75,000 | 60 | +30% |
| Rockford | $61,000 | 70 | +70% |
| Springfield | $88,000 | 40 | +47% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $76,000 | 40 | -16% |
| Fort Wayne | $85,000 | 70 | +20% |
| Gary | $77,000 | 60 | -23% |
| Indianapolis | $80,000 | 230 | -10% |
| South Bend | $63,000 | 50 | +37% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $84,000 | 50 | +38% |
| Davenport | $61,000 | 50 | 0% |
| Des Moines | $85,000 | 150 | +64% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $86,000 | 60 | -30% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $66,000 | 40 | -40% |
| Louisville | $72,000 | 120 | -31% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $66,000 | 110 | +6% |
| New Orleans | $73,000 | 120 | -17% |
| Shreveport | $62,000 | 60 | +25% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $84,000 | 90 | +62% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $79,000 | 350 | -6% |
| Bethesda | $97,000 | 160 | -1% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $73,000 | 40 | +51% |
| Boston | $112,000 | 1,090 | +121% |
| Framingham | $103,000 | 140 | +217% |
| Lowell | $119,000 | 70 | +116% |
| Springfield | $97,000 | 140 | +67% |
| Worcester | $97,000 | 110 | +60% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $109,000 | 50 | +11% |
| Detroit | $120,000 | 240 | +19% |
| Grand Rapids | $86,000 | 80 | -25% |
| Kalamazoo | $89,000 | 30 | -18% |
| Lansing | $95,000 | 80 | +51% |
| Warren | $90,000 | 310 | -6% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $117,000 | 460 | -10% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $69,000 | 40 | +39% |
| Jackson | $71,000 | 130 | +85% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $87,000 | 250 | -15% |
| Springfield | $81,000 | 30 | -44% |
| St Louis | $98,000 | 340 | -12% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $82,000 | 50 | +13% |
| Omaha | $85,000 | 160 | +22% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $72,000 | 130 | -51% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $101,000 | 120 | -20% |
| Edison | $111,000 | 230 | -22% |
| Newark | $122,000 | 260 | -10% |
| Trenton | $93,000 | 50 | -16% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $71,000 | 110 | +0% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $94,000 | 160 | +29% |
| Buffalo | $95,000 | 170 | +12% |
| Nassau | $119,000 | 340 | -5% |
| New York | $114,000 | 2,620 | +79% |
| Poughkeepsie | $104,000 | 40 | -40% |
| Rochester | $106,000 | 180 | +27% |
| Syracuse | $105,000 | 80 | -8% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $71,000 | 40 | -18% |
| Charlotte | $107,000 | 440 | +74% |
| Durham | $114,000 | 170 | +124% |
| Greensboro | $104,000 | 110 | +5% |
| Raleigh | $103,000 | 220 | +52% |
| Winston Salem | $103,000 | 110 | +85% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $98,000 | 70 | +127% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $76,000 | 90 | -5% |
| Cincinnati | $102,000 | 340 | +15% |
| Cleveland | $106,000 | 300 | -1% |
| Columbus | $92,000 | 160 | -40% |
| Dayton | $84,000 | 60 | -45% |
| Toledo | $74,000 | 70 | -20% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $61,000 | 280 | +75% |
| Tulsa | $68,000 | 290 | +136% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $92,000 | 130 | -56% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $95,000 | 130 | +37% |
| Erie | $70,000 | 50 | +49% |
| Harrisburg | $92,000 | 90 | +2% |
| Lancaster | $94,000 | 100 | +53% |
| Philadelphia | $99,000 | 900 | +67% |
| Pittsburgh | $89,000 | 450 | +38% |
| Reading | $92,000 | 50 | +12% |
| Scranton | $77,000 | 50 | -30% |
| State College | $86,000 | 40 | +185% |
| York | $99,000 | 40 | -19% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $102,000 | 130 | -19% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $81,000 | 40 | -51% |
| Columbia | $66,000 | 200 | +103% |
| Greenville | $79,000 | 110 | +29% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $70,000 | 110 | +71% |
| Kingsport | $69,000 | 40 | +32% |
| Knoxville | $65,000 | 160 | +71% |
| Memphis | $88,000 | 380 | +115% |
| Nashville | $64,000 | 470 | +116% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $107,000 | 250 | +15% |
| Beaumont | $70,000 | 40 | -6% |
| Dallas | $105,000 | 820 | +36% |
| El Paso | $86,000 | 60 | -18% |
| Fort Worth | $98,000 | 230 | -6% |
| Houston | $102,000 | 910 | +23% |
| Killeen | $85,000 | 30 | -6% |
| Midland | $86,000 | 30 | +79% |
| San Antonio | $92,000 | 250 | +4% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provo | $71,000 | 40 | -11% |
| Salt Lake City | $86,000 | 190 | +7% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $91,000 | 150 | -12% |
| Roanoke | $89,000 | 50 | +17% |
| Virginia Beach | $94,000 | 70 | -67% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $104,000 | 290 | -29% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $83,000 | 30 | -1% |
| Madison | $82,000 | 100 | +7% |
| Milwaukee | $83,000 | 320 | +32% |
| Oshkosh | $82,000 | 40 | +83% |