Compensation and Benefits Managers
Management
Pay and benefits programs are designed, evaluated, and changed so they stay current, competitive, and legal, including reports required under rules such as ERISA. Compensation plans are built from policy, government regulations, and prevailing wage rates. Benefits are researched with brokers, and tools are developed so employees can choose coverage and managers can make pay decisions. After a merger, programs may need to be combined; day to day, employees get written and spoken information on policies, and questions or disputes with providers get mediated. It suits people who like careful reading of rules, clear writing for staff, and weighing trade-offs in plan design.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$149'230
Median Wage Market Position
$149'230
What you might do
- Revise benefits so programs stay current and legal
- Build pay plans from wage rates and regulations
- Explain pay and benefits policies to employees
- File required reports under rules such as ERISA
- Create tools that help people choose their benefits
- Help employees resolve questions with benefits providers
Skills that matter
- Drafting pay and benefits notices
- Comparing wage rates for competitive plans
- Meeting ERISA and other reporting rules
- Answering employees' benefits questions
- Building tools that guide pay decisions
- Reviewing benefit programs after mergers
AI & the future of this role
Market benchmarking, plan modeling, and benefits administration are areas where analytical tools may take on more of the heavy lifting. Negotiating sensitive packages, navigating compliance risk, and earning employee trust remain human-led, even as desk work could compress.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details