What They Do
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.
Duties
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists typically do the following:
- Research compensation and benefits policies and plans
- Use data and cost analyses to compare compensation and benefits plans
- Evaluate position descriptions to determine classification and salary
- Ensure that an organization complies with federal and state laws
- Design and prepare reports summarizing research and analysis
- Present recommendations to other human resources managers
Some specialists perform tasks within all areas of compensation, benefits, and job analysis. Others specialize in a specific area.
Compensation specialists assess an organization’s pay structure for employees. They research compensation trends and review surveys to determine how their organization’s pay compares with that of other organizations in a particular industry and region. They often perform complex data and cost analyses to evaluate compensation policies. They also ensure that the organization’s pay practices comply with federal and state laws and regulations, such as equal pay laws, minimum wage, overtime, and workers’ compensation.
Benefits specialists administer an organization’s compensation programs that are supplemental to wages, including retirement plans, leave policies, wellness programs, and insurance plans. They research, analyze, and then recommend benefits plans, policies, and programs. They frequently monitor government regulations, legislation, and benefits trends to ensure that their programs are current, legal, and competitive. They also work closely with insurance brokers and benefits carriers and manage the enrollment, delivery of benefits, and renewal to the organization’s employees.
Job analysis specialists, also known as position classifiers, evaluate an organization’s positions by writing or assigning job descriptions, determining position classifications, and preparing salary scales. When the organization introduces a new job or reviews existing jobs, specialists must conduct research and make recommendations to managers on the classification, description, status, and salary of those jobs.
Work Environment
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists held about 107,000 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists were as follows:
| Insurance carriers and related activities | 18% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 12 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 8 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 8 |
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists work in nearly every industry.
They typically work in offices.
Work Schedules
Most compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists work full time.
How to Become One
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree and related work experience to enter the occupation.
Pay
The median annual wage for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists was $77,020 in May 2024.
Job Outlook
Employment of compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 8,500 openings for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 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.