Hiring Compensation and Benefits Managers
Employers across the 68 metro areas we have BLS OEWS wage data for pay compensation and benefits managers a median of $85,270 to $216,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A search through recruitlocalpros runs Tier I to Tier VI, $6,240 to $54,340, set by seniority, never by location or salary. Our vetted recruiting partner handles sourcing, screening and placement end to end.
What do compensation and benefits managers do?
- Direct preparation and distribution of written and verbal information to inform employees of benefits, compensation, and personnel policies.
- Design, evaluate, and modify benefits policies to ensure that programs are current, competitive, and in compliance with legal requirements.
- Fulfill all reporting requirements of all relevant government rules and regulations, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
- Analyze compensation policies, government regulations, and prevailing wage rates to develop competitive compensation plan.
- Identify and implement benefits to increase the quality of life for employees by working with brokers and researching benefits issues.
- Manage the design and development of tools to assist employees in benefits selection, and to guide managers through compensation decisions.
Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 11-3111.00.
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 PowerPoint, Oracle HRIS, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop for this role.
What do compensation and benefits managers get paid?
BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for compensation and benefits managers in 68 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $85,270 to $216,580 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $133,150. 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 11-3111.
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 published median for compensation and benefits managers in this build is $216,580. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $43,316 to $64,974 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.
Frequently asked
- How fast can a compensation and benefits managers search fill?
- 23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.
- What if the hire does not work out?
- A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.
Price a compensation and benefits managers search
Eight questions about the role. Your tier range appears on screen, with the contingency comparison if you are paying one now.
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