Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Benefits Administrator I Salary in the United States

How much does a Benefits Administrator I make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Benefits Administrator I in the United States is $57,650 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,622
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,446 to $64,440
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,887
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Benefits Administrator I Salaries

A Benefits Administrator 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 Benefits Administrator I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Benefits Administrator 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:

  • Benefits Administrator I (0-2 years): $57,650
  • Benefits Administrator II (2-4 years): $70,879
  • Benefits Administrator III (4-7 years): $87,652
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Benefits Administrator I0-2 years$57,650
Benefits Administrator II2-4 years$70,879
Benefits Administrator III4-7 years$87,652
View as Graph

How Do Benefits Administrator 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 Benefits Administrator Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $63,830.
  • California: $63,588.
  • Massachusetts: $62,740.

Top Paying Cities for Benefits Administrator 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: $72,714
  • San Francisco: $71,918
  • Oakland: $70,402

What Skills Can Increase a Benefits Administrator I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.01% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Workday (Mentioned in 3.03% Job Postings): A cloud-based human resource management software system that unifies a wide range of HR functionality into a single system.
  • Onboarding (Mentioned in 1.79% 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
Customer Service 10.01%
Workday 3.03%
Onboarding 1.79%
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 a Benefits Administrator I's salary.

  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Case Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Flexibility $74,945
30%
Leadership $65,145
13%
Case Management $62,839
9%
Get Latest Data

Benefits Administrator I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Benefits Administrator I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $64,426. While startup companies pay approximate $54,498.

Benefits Administrator I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $54,498
Growth Stage 51~500 $57,637
Established 501~5000 $62,212
Enterprise 5000+ $64,426

Benefits Administrator I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Benefits Administrator I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 115% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Benefits Administrator positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Benefits Administrator I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Benefits Administrator I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$74,945$36.030%
Pharmaceuticals$72,062$35.025%
Financial Services$69,180$33.020%
Internet$68,027$33.018%
Energy & Utilities$66,298$32.015%

How Education impacts a Benefits Administrator I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Benefits Administrator I enter the field with a Bachelor's 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 Benefits Administrator I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $57,045 and $60,505.

Benefits Administrator I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Benefits Administrator I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 19.2%
Associates 13.1%
Bachelors 53.8%
Masters 13.0%
Doctorate 0.4%
View as Graph

Benefits Administrator I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Benefits Administrator 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
$50,446
Average $57,650/year
$64,440
$4,204
Average $4,804/month
$5,370
$970
Average $1,109/week
$1,239
$24
Average $28/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,440 $5,370 $1,239 $31
Average $57,650 $4,804 $1,109 $28
25th Percentile $50,446 $4,204 $970 $24

Benefits Administrator I Salary Growth & Career Path

Benefits Administrator I

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Benefits Administrator 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
Benefits Administrator II $70,879 23%
Benefits Analyst II $70,879 23%

Most common benefits for Benefits Administrator I

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

Common company salaries for Benefits Administrator I

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

Find Your Next Benefits Administrator I Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Benefits Administrator I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Benefits Administrator I

1. Where can a Benefits Administrator I earn the most?

A Benefits Administrator I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Benefits Administrator I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Benefits Administrator I is $72,714.

2. What is the highest pay for Benefits Administrator I?

The highest pay for Benefits Administrator I is $70,622.

3. What is the lowest pay for Benefits Administrator I?

The lowest pay for Benefits Administrator I is $43,887.

4. What are the responsibilities of Benefits Administrator I?

Administers an organization's employee benefits programs to ensure enrollment, compliance, and employee support. Processes benefit enrollments, changes, and terminations, and verifies the accuracy of records across HRIS and carrier systems. Serves as the primary point of contact for employee inquiries regarding eligibility, coverage, claims, and plan provisions. Ensures compliance with applicable regulations and supports required reporting and audits. Reconciles benefit invoices and resolves discrepancies with insurance carriers and third-party vendors. Coordinates annual open enrollment activities, communicates plan changes to employees, and assists with the evaluation of plan offerings. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Benefits Administrator I?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Benefits Administrator I roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst