How much do Compensation and Benefits Managers make?
Compensation and Benefits Managers earn a median annual salary of $149,230 in the United States, which works out to roughly $71.75 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $89,160 at the entry level and $256,570 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $113,170 and $200,610 a year.
That is $87,840 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary range by percentile
Half of all Compensation and Benefits Managers earn between $113,170 and $200,610 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,160 | $42.87 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $113,170 | $54.41 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $149,230 | $71.75 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $200,610 | $96.45 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $256,570 | $123.35 |
Highest-paying states for Compensation and Benefits Managers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Compensation and Benefits Managers pay at $199,190 a year, followed by Connecticut ($197,970) and Massachusetts ($184,070). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $89,250 — a gap of $109,940 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $199,190 | $95.76 | +33% |
| 2 | Connecticut | $197,970 | $95.18 | +33% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $184,070 | $88.50 | +23% |
| 4 | New York | $175,620 | $84.43 | +18% |
| 5 | New Jersey | $168,370 | $80.95 | +13% |
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 45 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 23,000 people work as Compensation and Benefits Managers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $162,640 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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