Compensation & Benefits Analyst

Design, analyze, and administer compensation and benefits programs to attract, retain, and motivate employees while ensuring internal equity and market competitiveness. Conduct salary surveys, develop job evaluation frameworks, analyze pay equity, and model the financial impact of compensation program changes. Manage benefits vendor relationships, coordinate open enrollment, and ensure compliance with FLSA, ERISA, ACA, and other compensation and benefits regulations.

Median salary: $92,000. Projected growth to 2033: 6% (as fast as average) - steady demand across all industries. Typical education: Bachelor's Degree.

At a glance

Median salary: $92,000
Entry-level: $58,000 - $75,000
Senior: $138,000+
Growth by 2033: 6% (as fast as average) - steady demand across all industries
Demand: Stable
Remote: Hybrid
Hours per week: 40-50 hours/week
Stress: Moderate

What you'd do

People interaction: Moderate
Team vs solo: 50% Team / 50% Solo
Client facing: Sometimes
Impact visibility: Moderate

How to get there

Minimum education: Bachelor's Degree
Licensing: No
Years to mid-career: 2-4 years
Years to senior: 5-8 years
Career switching: Moderate
Typical student debt: $25,000 - $50,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

Compensation Survey Participation & Analysis (Radford / Mercer / Willis Towers Watson)
Job Evaluation & Grade Structure Design
Pay Equity Analysis
Benefits Plan Design & Vendor Management
FLSA & ERISA Compliance
Excel & Workday for Compensation Modelling

Soft skills

Analytical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Written Communication
Regulatory Knowledge
Stakeholder Engagement

Technical complexity: Moderate

Typical career path

Compensation Analyst
Senior Compensation Analyst
Compensation Manager
Director of Total Rewards
VP Total Rewards