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Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I Salary in the United States

How much does an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I in the United States is $59,620 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,031
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,170 to $66,640
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,387
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I Salaries

An Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Employee Benefits Programs Analyst Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I (0-2 years): $59,611
  • Employee Benefits Programs Analyst II (2-4 years): $70,879
  • Senior Benefits Analyst (4-7 years): $95,006
  • Specialist/Lead Benefits Analyst (7+ years): $114,026
  • Employee Benefit Programs Supervisor (7+ years): $106,486
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I0-2 years$59,611
Employee Benefits Programs Analyst II2-4 years$70,879
Senior Benefits Analyst4-7 years$95,006
Specialist/Lead Benefits Analyst7+ years$114,026
Employee Benefit Programs Supervisor7+ years$106,486
View as Graph

How Do Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Employee Benefits Programs Analyst Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $66,010.
  • California: $65,760.
  • Massachusetts: $64,880.

Top Paying Cities for Employee Benefits Programs Analyst Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $75,190
  • San Francisco: $74,370
  • Oakland: $72,800

What Skills Can Increase an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Networking (Mentioned in 7.16% Job Postings): Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.
  • HRIS (Mentioned in 3.37% Job Postings): HRIS is a management system designed specifically to provide managers with information to make HR decisions. Is a system that lets you keep track of all your employees and information about them.
  • Onboarding (Mentioned in 2.37% Job Postings): Onboarding, also known as organizational socialization, is management jargon first created in the 1970's that refers to the mechanism through which new employees acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviors in order to become effective organizational members and insiders. It is the process of integrating a new employee into the organization and its culture. Tactics used in this process include formal meetings, lectures, videos, printed materials, or computer-based orientations to introduce newcomers to their new jobs and organizations. Research has demonstrated that these socialization techniques lead to positive outcomes for new employees such as higher job satisfaction, better job performance, greater organizational commitment, and reduction in occupational stress and intent to quit.. These outcomes are particularly important to an organization looking to retain a competitive advantage in an increasingly mobile and globalized workforce. In the United States, for example, up to 25% of workers are organizational newcomers engaged in an onboarding process. The term induction is used instead in regions such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and parts of Europe. This is known in some parts of the world as training.
Skills Demand Percentage
Networking 7.16%
HRIS 3.37%
Onboarding 2.37%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I's salary.

  • Insurance Products: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Workday: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insurance Products $73,929
24%
Workday $71,544
20%
Project Management $70,948
19%
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Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $66,628. While startup companies pay approximate $56,360.

Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $56,360
Growth Stage 51~500 $59,607
Established 501~5000 $64,338
Enterprise 5000+ $66,628

Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Media and Telecom sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Employee Benefits Programs Analyst positions in MFG Durable or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Media$83,468$40.040%
Telecom$80,487$39.035%
Energy & Utilities$77,506$37.030%
Construction$74,525$36.025%
Aerospace & Defense$71,544$34.020%

How Education impacts an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Employee Benefits Programs Analyst Is enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I with a Associate's Degree is between $59,854 and $63,550).

Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 10.0%
High School 10.0%
Associates 7.9%
Bachelors 61.4%
Masters 20.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$52,170
Average $59,620/year
$66,640
$4,348
Average $4,968/month
$5,553
$1,003
Average $1,147/week
$1,282
$25
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $66,640 $5,553 $1,282 $32
Average $59,620 $4,968 $1,147 $29
25th Percentile $52,170 $4,348 $1,003 $25

Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I Salary Growth & Career Path

Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Employee Benefits Administrator, Experienced $70,900 19%
Employee Benefits Programs Analyst II $70,880 19%

Most common benefits for Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I

Here are companies hiring for Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I?

The Media industry offers the highest average compensation for Employee Benefits Programs Analyst I roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

2. How much do payroll analysts make in the US?

As of the latest data, the salary for an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst in the US ranges from $57,640 to $70,680 annually, with a midpoint salary of $64,280. This translates to an hourly wage of approximately $27.69 to $33.96, with the average being around $30.88.

3. How much does a benefit analyst earn in the US?

As of now, the salary range for a Benefits Programs Analyst in the United States is between $57,640 and $70,680 annually, with a midpoint salary of $64,280. This translates to approximately $27.69 to $33.98 per hour, or $1,113 to $1,356 per week.

4. What does a benefit analysis do?

A benefit-cost analysis (BCA) systematically identifies, quantifies, and compares the expected benefits and costs of investments, actions, or policies. At DOT, BCA is commonly used for regulatory impact analysis, policy analysis, and infrastructure project evaluation. The salary range for an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst is between $57,640 and $70,680, with a midpoint of $64,280.

5. What is the highest paying analyst?

The highest paying analyst role in the Employee Benefits Programs Analyst category has a salary range from $57,640 to $70,680. While this is lower than some top-paying analyst positions, factors such as experience, industry, and location can still significantly impact earnings within this range.

6. Can I make 100k as a data analyst?

As an Employee Benefits Programs Analyst, the salary range typically falls between $57,640 and $70,680, with a median salary of around $64,280. While some experienced data analysts may earn over $100,000, this is generally above the typical salary range for this specific role.

7. How do I prepare for a benefits analyst interview?

To prepare for a benefits analyst interview, focus on your experience in cost reduction and innovative savings strategies. For instance, you might say, In my last role, I helped the company save on health insurance by researching new providers and comparing rates, ultimately reducing costs significantly. Remember, salaries for this role range from $57,640 to $70,680, reflecting the value of your expertise.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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