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Salary and Benefits Management 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.

Salary and Benefits Management 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.

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.

Salary and Benefits Management Jobs and Outlook

According to a United States Department of Labor study performed in 2006, salary and benefits managers held about 110,000 jobs in the US. Overall employment in this field is likely to grow by 17 percent until 2016. Employment is the highest in the following areas:

• Agencies, brokerages, and other insurance related activities
• Insurance carriers
• Local government
• Management of companies and enterprises
• State government

The median annual earnings of salary and benefits managers in the US was $50,230 as of May, 2006.

Job Numbers and Growth

Nationally, there are 49,000 salary and benefits managers. The occupation is characterized by a low joblessness level. The unemployment rate for employees was 3% in 2006.

Area Job Conditions

Looking at salary and benefits managers per capita, Midland (Texas), Framingham (Massachusetts), and State College (Pennsylvania) rise to the top of the list. Huntsville (Alabama), Cape Coral (Florida), and Virginia Beach (Virginia) have the fewest per capita.

The highest salaries for workers are in and around Midland (Texas), San Jose (California), and Lowell (Massachusetts). The lowest-paying areas are Kingsport (Tennessee), South Bend (Indiana), and Johnson City (Tennessee).

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. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work 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

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin