Salary and Benefits Specialist Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
There isn't a specific major generally required for entry-level positions, however some good choices are human resources, labor relations, and training and development. Some schools do provide a degree in compensation and benefits. Master's degrees are also available.
Training and Education
Employees often obtain a bachelor's degree before starting. The percentage of salary and benefits specialists with college degrees is 56%. Workers with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 30% of the total. Some employees, about 14%, had a high-school education.
Job Overview
Salary and benefits specialists assist in developing systems that determine competitive wages and benefit packages for an organization's employees. It's important for an organization to keep its quality employees, thus offering competitive salaries and benefits is essential. The role of salary and benefits specialists is particularly important in large companies and for the federal government since the salary structure and benefits plans they create need to be consistent throughout the whole organization.
Job Requirements
A bachelor's degree is typically required for most compensation and benefits specialist positions. Being proficient with computers, especially database software, is important for the occupation.
Nature of Work
- Classify jobs based on their level of responsibility and their importance to the organization
- Determine the optimal pay structure and benefits packages
- Advise managers and employees regarding employment regulations and compensation and benefits policies
- Perform salary surveys
Area Job Conditions
Popular locations for salary and benefits specialists include Bloomington (Illinois), Jefferson City (Missouri), and Des Moines (Iowa). Fewer are found in Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), Lafayette (Louisiana), and Atlantic City (New Jersey).
Workers looking for high salaries should look at Bloomington (Illinois), San Jose (California), and Lafayette (Indiana), and should avoid Brownsville (Texas), Cedar Rapids (Iowa), and Lubbock (Texas).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Part-time salary and benefits specialists are 8% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 2%, work for themselves.
Salary and Benefits Specialists 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 | $52,000 | 530 | +9% |
| Huntsville | $43,000 | 90 | -52% |
| Mobile | $45,000 | 50 | -70% |
| Montgomery | $45,000 | 60 | -61% |
| Tuscaloosa | $39,000 | 40 | -48% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $54,000 | 60 | -58% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $42,000 | 30 | -34% |
| Phoenix | $53,000 | 1,960 | +12% |
| Prescott | $50,000 | 60 | +16% |
| Tucson | $46,000 | 270 | -21% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $43,000 | 130 | -27% |
| Fort Smith | $38,000 | 60 | -42% |
| Little Rock | $44,000 | 270 | -14% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $51,000 | 90 | -63% |
| Fresno | $52,000 | 320 | +5% |
| Modesto | $55,000 | 80 | -45% |
| Napa | $63,000 | 60 | +12% |
| Oakland | $64,000 | 950 | -2% |
| Oxnard | $56,000 | 210 | -23% |
| Riverside | $61,000 | 520 | -57% |
| Sacramento | $60,000 | 730 | -12% |
| Salinas | $56,000 | 70 | -49% |
| San Diego | $60,000 | 1,080 | -14% |
| San Francisco | $71,000 | 1,400 | +50% |
| San Jose | $76,000 | 850 | -1% |
| Santa Ana | $61,000 | 1,250 | -13% |
| Santa Barbara | $60,000 | 70 | -53% |
| Santa Cruz | $56,000 | 40 | -47% |
| Stockton | $58,000 | 110 | -43% |
| Vallejo | $63,000 | 100 | -7% |
| Visalia | $52,000 | 70 | -41% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $62,000 | 160 | +12% |
| Colorado Springs | $56,000 | 230 | +1% |
| Denver | $63,000 | 1,440 | +23% |
| Fort Collins | $56,000 | 90 | -15% |
| Grand Junction | $49,000 | 40 | -14% |
| Greeley | $61,000 | 60 | -5% |
| Pueblo | $56,000 | 30 | -32% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $67,000 | 390 | -4% |
| Hartford | $67,000 | 610 | +13% |
| New Haven | $54,000 | 100 | -61% |
| Norwich | $52,000 | 100 | -8% |
| Waterbury | $56,000 | 40 | -30% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $47,000 | 40 | -11% |
| Wilmington | $65,000 | 400 | +32% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $71,000 | 2,860 | +32% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $52,000 | 90 | -52% |
| Deltona | $46,000 | 70 | -49% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $56,000 | 410 | -40% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $44,000 | 30 | -53% |
| Gainesville | $45,000 | 30 | -70% |
| Jacksonville | $50,000 | 380 | -32% |
| Lakeland | $45,000 | 80 | -54% |
| Miami | $54,000 | 510 | -45% |
| Ocala | $41,000 | 40 | -51% |
| Orlando | $47,000 | 540 | -45% |
| Palm Bay | $51,000 | 100 | -43% |
| Pensacola | $45,000 | 80 | -40% |
| Port St Lucie | $49,000 | 40 | -64% |
| Sarasota | $51,000 | 150 | -37% |
| Tallahassee | $43,000 | 200 | +38% |
| Tampa | $53,000 | 750 | -34% |
| West Palm Beach | $55,000 | 330 | -34% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $44,000 | 40 | -37% |
| Atlanta | $56,000 | 2,330 | +5% |
| Augusta | $48,000 | 130 | -30% |
| Columbus | $49,000 | 70 | -26% |
| Gainesville | $48,000 | 40 | -32% |
| Macon | $47,000 | 40 | -53% |
| Savannah | $53,000 | 70 | -47% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $52,000 | 250 | -38% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $50,000 | 180 | -27% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $89,000 | 350 | +492% |
| Champaign | $54,000 | 70 | -13% |
| Chicago | $62,000 | 3,660 | +2% |
| Decatur | $54,000 | 80 | +111% |
| Peoria | $58,000 | 100 | -34% |
| Rockford | $45,000 | 50 | -63% |
| Springfield | $58,000 | 130 | +46% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | $36,000 | 30 | -5% |
| Columbus | $34,000 | 40 | +18% |
| Elkhart | $52,000 | 60 | -47% |
| Evansville | $45,000 | 80 | -49% |
| Fort Wayne | $55,000 | 190 | -1% |
| Gary | $70,000 | 250 | -2% |
| Indianapolis | $56,000 | 670 | -20% |
| Lafayette | $68,000 | 30 | -53% |
| Muncie | $47,000 | 40 | +10% |
| South Bend | $47,000 | 70 | -42% |
| Terre Haute | $61,000 | 80 | +37% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $35,000 | 300 | +153% |
| Davenport | $44,000 | 140 | -15% |
| Des Moines | $47,000 | 870 | +189% |
| Dubuque | $53,000 | 30 | -28% |
| Sioux City | $48,000 | 90 | +50% |
| Waterloo | $39,000 | 90 | +23% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | $50,000 | 40 | +10% |
| Topeka | $47,000 | 100 | +4% |
| Wichita | $48,000 | 310 | +11% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $51,000 | 80 | -64% |
| Louisville | $68,000 | 420 | -27% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $41,000 | 420 | +24% |
| Houma | $37,000 | 40 | -51% |
| Lafayette | $41,000 | 30 | -77% |
| Lake Charles | $46,000 | 30 | -59% |
| New Orleans | $43,000 | 220 | -53% |
| Shreveport | $38,000 | 50 | -68% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $47,000 | 70 | +32% |
| Lewiston | $46,000 | 40 | +0% |
| Portland | $56,000 | 350 | +92% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $55,000 | 1,180 | -3% |
| Bethesda | $64,000 | 630 | +18% |
| Hagerstown | $55,000 | 30 | -65% |
| Salisbury | $44,000 | 40 | -7% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $58,000 | 110 | +27% |
| Boston | $66,000 | 2,490 | +54% |
| Brockton | $64,000 | 50 | -34% |
| Framingham | $66,000 | 270 | +86% |
| Haverhill | $59,000 | 50 | -23% |
| Lawrence | $57,000 | 50 | +6% |
| Leominster | $62,000 | 40 | -1% |
| Lowell | $65,000 | 120 | +13% |
| New Bedford | $50,000 | 40 | -26% |
| Pittsfield | $54,000 | 40 | +56% |
| Springfield | $60,000 | 220 | -20% |
| Worcester | $55,000 | 290 | +28% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $64,000 | 130 | -12% |
| Battle Creek | $57,000 | 50 | +27% |
| Detroit | $73,000 | 710 | +7% |
| Flint | $52,000 | 60 | -50% |
| Grand Rapids | $54,000 | 280 | -20% |
| Holland | $64,000 | 100 | +14% |
| Jackson | $60,000 | 30 | -29% |
| Kalamazoo | $56,000 | 80 | -33% |
| Lansing | $61,000 | 340 | +96% |
| Saginaw | $53,000 | 30 | -53% |
| Warren | $58,000 | 800 | -26% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $54,000 | 60 | -46% |
| Minneapolis | $56,000 | 2,450 | +46% |
| Rochester | $59,000 | 30 | -62% |
| St Cloud | $47,000 | 50 | -43% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $41,000 | 50 | -47% |
| Hattiesburg | $39,000 | 30 | -36% |
| Jackson | $40,000 | 170 | -26% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $46,000 | 40 | -43% |
| Jefferson City | $44,000 | 200 | +248% |
| Joplin | $41,000 | 40 | -41% |
| Kansas City | $56,000 | 1,010 | +5% |
| Springfield | $41,000 | 150 | -15% |
| St Louis | $54,000 | 1,330 | +5% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $43,000 | 100 | +46% |
| Missoula | $44,000 | 40 | -5% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $52,000 | 210 | +44% |
| Omaha | $57,000 | 580 | +35% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City | $59,000 | 40 | +94% |
| Las Vegas | $59,000 | 450 | -48% |
| Reno | $59,000 | 90 | -52% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $53,000 | 110 | +21% |
| Nashua | $57,000 | 40 | -67% |
| Rochester | $48,000 | 30 | -36% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $59,000 | 30 | -77% |
| Camden | $67,000 | 510 | +4% |
| Edison | $71,000 | 650 | -33% |
| Newark | $66,000 | 570 | -40% |
| Trenton | $61,000 | 450 | +132% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $56,000 | 220 | -39% |
| Santa Fe | $50,000 | 90 | +71% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $55,000 | 490 | +21% |
| Binghamton | $50,000 | 100 | +8% |
| Buffalo | $53,000 | 510 | +2% |
| Glens Falls | $47,000 | 50 | +16% |
| Kingston | $50,000 | 50 | +2% |
| Nassau | $62,000 | 910 | -23% |
| New York | $65,000 | 10,600 | +120% |
| Poughkeepsie | $56,000 | 120 | -45% |
| Rochester | $54,000 | 540 | +16% |
| Syracuse | $52,000 | 330 | +16% |
| Utica | $61,000 | 100 | -11% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $45,000 | 130 | -19% |
| Burlington | $49,000 | 80 | +65% |
| Charlotte | $55,000 | 1,420 | +71% |
| Durham | $63,000 | 370 | +48% |
| Fayetteville | $49,000 | 60 | -44% |
| Greensboro | $54,000 | 260 | -24% |
| Greenville | $52,000 | 40 | -33% |
| Hickory | $50,000 | 70 | -52% |
| Raleigh | $51,000 | 880 | +85% |
| Rocky Mount | $51,000 | 50 | +4% |
| Wilmington | $56,000 | 90 | -30% |
| Winston Salem | $55,000 | 310 | +59% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $59,000 | 30 | -35% |
| Fargo | $59,000 | 90 | -11% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $56,000 | 230 | -26% |
| Canton | $51,000 | 80 | -49% |
| Cincinnati | $58,000 | 1,260 | +30% |
| Cleveland | $57,000 | 1,010 | +2% |
| Columbus | $53,000 | 830 | -5% |
| Dayton | $52,000 | 320 | -11% |
| Toledo | $50,000 | 200 | -30% |
| Youngstown | $45,000 | 100 | -53% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $36,000 | 590 | +12% |
| Tulsa | $49,000 | 390 | -3% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $45,000 | 40 | -30% |
| Eugene | $58,000 | 60 | -55% |
| Medford | $47,000 | 30 | -58% |
| Portland | $51,000 | 850 | -12% |
| Salem | $52,000 | 60 | -55% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $51,000 | 270 | -13% |
| Altoona | $52,000 | 40 | -19% |
| Erie | $47,000 | 130 | +18% |
| Harrisburg | $56,000 | 350 | +20% |
| Johnstown | $41,000 | 40 | -14% |
| Lancaster | $50,000 | 220 | +3% |
| Philadelphia | $57,000 | 2,070 | +17% |
| Pittsburgh | $53,000 | 1,130 | +6% |
| Reading | $52,000 | 110 | -25% |
| Scranton | $47,000 | 140 | -40% |
| Williamsport | $47,000 | 30 | -27% |
| York | $53,000 | 80 | -50% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $58,000 | 400 | -24% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $45,000 | 160 | -40% |
| Columbia | $49,000 | 240 | -26% |
| Florence | $57,000 | 50 | -30% |
| Greenville | $52,000 | 260 | -7% |
| Myrtle Beach | $38,000 | 30 | -71% |
| Spartanburg | $49,000 | 60 | -44% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $44,000 | 40 | -23% |
| Sioux Falls | $45,000 | 200 | +64% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $51,000 | 200 | -5% |
| Kingsport | $47,000 | 60 | -40% |
| Knoxville | $50,000 | 120 | -61% |
| Memphis | $57,000 | 400 | -31% |
| Nashville | $53,000 | 440 | -38% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $43,000 | 30 | -42% |
| Amarillo | $48,000 | 90 | +4% |
| Austin | $57,000 | 1,140 | +60% |
| Beaumont | $49,000 | 130 | -7% |
| Brownsville | $39,000 | 70 | -35% |
| College Station | $46,000 | 90 | +38% |
| Corpus Christi | $38,000 | 110 | -30% |
| Dallas | $56,000 | 2,620 | +33% |
| El Paso | $44,000 | 280 | +17% |
| Fort Worth | $58,000 | 820 | +2% |
| Houston | $59,000 | 3,520 | +45% |
| Killeen | $48,000 | 100 | -4% |
| Laredo | $45,000 | 40 | -43% |
| Longview | $46,000 | 70 | -13% |
| Lubbock | $47,000 | 60 | -43% |
| Mcallen | $43,000 | 110 | -44% |
| Midland | $46,000 | 80 | +45% |
| Odessa | $46,000 | 40 | -13% |
| San Antonio | $49,000 | 940 | +20% |
| Tyler | $60,000 | 80 | +3% |
| Waco | $46,000 | 60 | -28% |
| Wichita Falls | $41,000 | 50 | +6% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | 200 | +11% | |
| Provo | $45,000 | 90 | -39% |
| Salt Lake City | $51,000 | 650 | +11% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $53,000 | 160 | +67% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $49,000 | 40 | -21% |
| Charlottesville | $46,000 | 110 | +38% |
| Harrisonburg | $74,000 | 40 | -9% |
| Lynchburg | $47,000 | 70 | -19% |
| Richmond | $60,000 | 630 | +13% |
| Roanoke | $49,000 | 130 | -7% |
| Virginia Beach | $49,000 | 550 | -22% |
| Winchester | $60,000 | 50 | +17% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton | $43,000 | 30 | -57% |
| Kennewick | $59,000 | 30 | -61% |
| Olympia | $49,000 | 160 | +100% |
| Seattle | $67,000 | 1,270 | -6% |
| Spokane | $58,000 | 80 | -58% |
| Tacoma | $59,000 | 90 | -63% |
| Yakima | $58,000 | 30 | -56% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $41,000 | 130 | +1% |
| Huntington | $49,000 | 80 | -19% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $47,000 | 100 | +1% |
| Eau Claire | $49,000 | 40 | -38% |
| Green Bay | $49,000 | 120 | -19% |
| Janesville | $47,000 | 70 | +30% |
| La Crosse | $50,000 | 60 | +5% |
| Madison | $46,000 | 620 | +102% |
| Milwaukee | $51,000 | 860 | +8% |
| Oshkosh | $51,000 | 70 | -2% |
| Wausau | $50,000 | 50 | -11% |
*FOOTNOTES: Job Facts salary and numbers data is based on US Department of Labor Statistics data for 2011. Other data on page may be from earlier years. Typical salary is given as median salary, where 50% in the job make more and 50% less. Salary range is Job Hunt's estimates of typical starting salary as being at the 10th percentile of reported pay and typical top end salary, for the most senior workers, as being at the 90th. Job openings is an estimate of new jobs every year due to growth plus those leaving the field. Where NA is given data is not available. Suggested studies is based on Job Hunt research, suggesting a minimum degree level that is judged to offer the best opportunities for entry-level employment. This Compensation and Benefits Specialists schools and career page was originally researched by CityTownInfo.com.