Hiring Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists

What do compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists do?

• Administer employee insurance, pension, and savings plans, working with insurance brokers and plan carriers.
• Ensure company compliance with federal and state laws, including reporting requirements.
• Research employee benefit and health and safety practices, and recommend changes or modifications to existing policies.
• Advise managers and employees on state and federal employment regulations, collective agreements, benefit and compensation policies, personnel procedures, and classification programs.
• Plan and develop curricula and materials for training programs and conduct training.
• Assist in preparing and maintaining personnel records and handbooks.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 13-1141.00.

What does it take to become one?

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

O*NET Job Zone 4, SVP (7.0 to < 8.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Oracle HRIS, IBM SPSS Statistics for this role.

What do compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists in 88 of the metro areas we publish data for. The median ranges from $45,180 to $133,700 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $74,210. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 13-1141.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest median any metro we publish data for pays compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists is $133,700 a year, place of work (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $26,740 to $40,110 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a compensation and benefits specialist search fill?

Typically 23 to 35 days, and typically 2 to 3x faster than a contingency search, per our recruiting partner's published figures. Both are typical rather than guaranteed.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.