The median pay for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists is $78,210 a year ($37.60/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 6.0% through 2035, with about 9,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-1141
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $78,210a year, or $37.60/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $49KTop 10% $129K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9,000118,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025118.1K
- Projected 2035125.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 118.1K Projected 2035 125.2K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school4.8%
- Bachelor's85.7%
- Post-bacc certificate9.5%
Highest education held by compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists Segment Value High school 4.8% Bachelor's 85.7% Post-bacc certificate 9.5%
Also advertised as: Benefits Analyst, Benefits Consultant, Benefits Specialist, Compensation Analyst, Compensation and Benefits Analyst, Compensation and Benefits Specialist.
Pay
How much do Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists make?
Every compensation, benefit, and job analysis specialist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$78,210
Middle half earn $60,890 to $100,400
- 10th
- $49,480
- 25th
- $60,890
- 75th
- $100,400
- 90th
- $128,920
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $49,480 |
| 25th | $60,890 |
| Median | $78,210 |
| 75th | $100,400 |
| 90th | $128,920 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $78,210
- Median hourly wage
- $37.60/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $84,330
- People employed
- 112,380
Versus all US occupations
At $78,210, Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists earn 53% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $27,230 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 3% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $128,920 or more while the bottom 10% earn $49,480, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 55% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Delaware pays the most at $99,560, and still leads at $99,752 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Delaware | $99,560 | $99,752 | 290 |
| 2Massachusetts | $95,890 | $90,670 | 3,390 |
| 3Colorado | $92,560 | $89,819 | 1,980 |
| 4California | $91,410 | $82,560 | 13,430 |
| 5District of Columbia | $86,710 | $78,898 | 650 |
| 6Washington | $86,630 | $80,953 | 3,350 |
| 7New Jersey | $85,040 | $78,158 | 3,150 |
| 8New Mexico | $83,540 | $90,596 | 340 |
| 9Oregon | $83,320 | $80,611 | 1,330 |
| 10New York | $83,200 | $77,093 | 11,470 |
Job outlook
Is Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | +6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists to change 6.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 7,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 9,000 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 118,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Organizations will continue to hire benefits specialists to analyze, select, and update their benefits policies. Organizations will need benefits specialists to design, evaluate, and administer policies to reduce rising healthcare costs due to the aging population and rising use of next-generation diabetes and weight-loss drugs.
In addition, organizations must manage increasingly complex benefits programs as federal, state, and local policies change. Organizations will need specialists to analyze these compensation policies and plans and to ensure that they are both competitive and cost effective.
Getting in
How to become a Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree and related work experience to enter the occupation.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists.
- Bachelor's Degree85.7%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate9.5%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)4.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 85.7% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 9.5% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist do?
Conduct programs of compensation and benefits and job analysis for employer. May specialize in specific areas, such as position classification and pension programs.
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists oversee wage and nonwage programs that an organization provides to its employees in return for their work. They also evaluate position descriptions to determine details such as classification and salary.
Day-to-day tasks
- Advise managers and employees on state and federal employment regulations, collective agreements, benefit and compensation policies, personnel procedures, and classification programs.
- 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.
- Plan and develop curricula and materials for training programs and conduct training.
- Assist in preparing and maintaining personnel records and handbooks.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Insurance carriers and related activities20%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services13%
- Management of companies and enterprises11%
- Healthcare and social assistance7%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Insurance carriers and related activities | 20% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 11% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 7% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.4
- Active Learning3.4
- Mathematics3.1
- Monitoring3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Persuasion3.0
- Negotiation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Time accounting software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional5.8
- Enterprising5.4
- Social3.6
- Investigative3.4
- Artistic1.4
- Realistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist
O*NET related occupations
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Most earn $37K to $68K
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More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist$78,210
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist | $78,210 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within compensation, benefit, and job analysis specialist
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist appears on
Questions
Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists make?
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists earn a median of $78,210 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 53% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $37.60/hr. The middle half earn between $60,890 and $100,400. The top 10% earn $128,920 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 85.7% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 9,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist do?
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists oversee wage and nonwage programs that an organization provides to its employees in return for their work. A core O*NET task: advise managers and employees on state and federal employment regulations, collective agreements, benefit and compensation policies, personnel procedures, and classification programs. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base user interface and query software, Development environment software.
Which states pay Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists are Delaware ($99,560), Massachusetts ($95,890), Colorado ($92,560) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist?
O*NET scores Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.