Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
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.
Is compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists a good career?
It scores 23/100 and ranks #255 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($78,210 vs $61,390)
Possible tradeoffs
- Typically requires a bachelor's degree
- Often needs prior experience (less than 5 years)
What compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists earn between $60,890 and $100,400 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists jobs
How to become a compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialist
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow faster than average through 2034.
Education
Employers typically require that compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists have a bachelor’s degree. Common fields of degree include business, social science, psychology, and communications. Some employers accept additional related work experience in lieu of a degree.
Regardless of major, students interested in this occupation may find it useful to take courses in subjects such as human resources management, finance, and accounting.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Although professional certification is not required, it demonstrates expertise. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have certification, but other employers allow their employees to earn certification after they have begun working.
Certification programs often require applicants to have several years of related work experience in order to qualify for the credential.
Advancement
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists may advance to become a compensation and benefits manager or a human resources manager. Specialists typically need several years of work experience to advance.
Important qualities
Analytical skills. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists perform data and cost analyses to evaluate their organization’s policies. They also must be able to interpret the details of contracts and laws.
Business skills. Specialists must understand basic finance and accounting. They help set the wages and benefits packages for new employees.
Communication skills. Specialists need to provide information about compensation and benefits in a way that is understandable to employees at all levels throughout their organization.
Critical-thinking skills. Specialists must be able to evaluate job positions, salary scales, promotion practices, and other compensation and benefits policies.
Related occupations
How much do compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists make?
The national median wage is $78,210 a year, with the middle half earning between $60,890 and $100,400 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 23 of 100 and ranks #255 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +5.3% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialist?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree, usually with less than 5 years.
Where do compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists earn the most?
Among states, Delaware pays the highest median ($99,560). Local pay for every state and metro is below.