Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in the U.S.
Compensation and Benefits Managers in the U.S. earn a median of $149,230 a year ($71.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 22,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $89,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $256,570 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $162,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for compensation and benefits managers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,160 | $42.86 |
| 25th percentile | $113,170 | $54.41 |
| Median | $149,230 | $71.75 |
| 75th percentile | $200,610 | $96.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $256,570 | $123.35 |
| Average (mean) | $162,640 | $78.19 |
Half of compensation and benefits managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $12,435.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,217.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,739.62 |
| Weekly | $2,869.81 |
| Hourly | $71.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $199,190 | 460 |
| Connecticut | $197,970 | 480 |
| Massachusetts | $184,070 | 670 |
| New York | $175,620 | 2,260 |
| New Jersey | $168,370 | 950 |
| California | $166,730 | 2,970 |
| Delaware | $166,070 | 50 |
| Colorado | $165,770 | 280 |
| Minnesota | $163,390 | 360 |
| Georgia | $163,060 | 1,010 |
| Oregon | $161,470 | 240 |
| District of Columbia | $160,990 | 130 |
| Virginia | $153,660 | n/a |
| Illinois | $151,730 | 780 |
| Michigan | $151,620 | 580 |
| Rhode Island | $149,340 | 50 |
| Ohio | $141,920 | 460 |
| Maryland | $139,860 | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $139,040 | 770 |
| New Hampshire | $136,950 | 100 |
| Texas | $136,930 | 2,230 |
| North Carolina | $135,240 | 880 |
| Tennessee | $132,780 | 670 |
| Utah | $132,620 | 200 |
| Arizona | $129,890 | 510 |
| Maine | $129,690 | 50 |
| Florida | $127,960 | 1,670 |
| Wisconsin | $127,920 | n/a |
| New Mexico | $124,390 | 40 |
| Alaska | $122,490 | 30 |
| Nebraska | $121,630 | 140 |
| Alabama | $118,470 | 90 |
| Iowa | $118,250 | 120 |
| Indiana | $118,180 | 170 |
| Nevada | $115,180 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $114,290 | 110 |
| Kansas | $114,070 | 70 |
| Hawaii | $110,120 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $107,760 | 180 |
| Missouri | $106,490 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $100,810 | 140 |
| Louisiana | $99,840 | 220 |
| South Carolina | $99,630 | 330 |
| Puerto Rico | $97,500 | 30 |
| Idaho | $90,020 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $89,250 | 70 |
Best-paying metro areas for compensation and benefits managers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $221,800 | 40 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $218,860 | 230 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $216,580 | 340 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $215,180 | 320 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $188,850 | 590 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $186,700 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $185,590 | 590 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $179,730 | 2,420 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $171,950 | 590 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $168,850 | 230 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $168,540 | 180 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $167,450 | 300 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $166,100 | 760 |
| Cleveland, OH | $163,500 | 110 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $163,390 | 320 |
Metro areas with the most compensation and benefits managers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,420 | $179,730 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,030 | $155,380 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 790 | $145,930 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 760 | $166,100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 610 | $155,340 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 590 | $185,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 590 | $188,850 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 590 | $171,950 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 480 | $148,870 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 440 | $130,010 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 430 | $131,450 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 430 | $148,520 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 340 | $216,580 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 330 | $162,490 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 320 | $163,390 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Manager | $166,570 | $80.08 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $175,140 | $84.20 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $114,130 | $54.87 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $126,060 | $60.61 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $107,230 | $51.55 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 | $71.77 |
| Facilities Manager | $106,660 | $51.28 |
| Purchasing Manager | $148,080 | $71.19 |
| Training and Development Managers | $133,000 | $63.94 |
| General and Operations Managers | $105,770 | $50.85 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 | $71.28 |
| Managers, All Other | $141,900 | $68.22 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $123,860 | $59.55 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 | $80.19 |
More: Management Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-3111. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a compensation and benefits managers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for compensation and benefits managers in the U.S. is $149,230 a year, or $71.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $89,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $256,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid compensation and benefits managers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of compensation and benefits managers in the U.S. earn at least $256,570 a year. The top 25% earn $200,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for compensation and benefits managers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $89,160 a year, and a quarter of compensation and benefits managers earn $113,170 or less.
How many compensation and benefits managers work in the U.S.?
About 22,940 compensation and benefits managers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.