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Benefits Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Benefits Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Benefits Manager in the United States is $128,239 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $149,720
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $116,335 to $139,483
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $105,497
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Benefits Manager Salaries

A Benefits Manager'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 Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Benefits Manager'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 Analyst IV (7+ years): $114,027
  • Benefits Supervisor (7+ years): $106,487
  • Benefits Manager (7+ years): $128,239
  • Benefits Senior Manager (7+ years): $171,186
  • Benefits Director (7+ years): $192,292
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Benefits Analyst IV7+ years$114,027
Benefits Supervisor7+ years$106,487
Benefits Manager7+ years$128,239
Benefits Senior Manager7+ years$171,186
Benefits Director7+ years$192,292
View as Graph

How Do Benefits Managers 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 Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $141,986.
  • California: $141,448.
  • Massachusetts: $139,563.

Top Paying Cities for Benefits Manager

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: $161,748
  • San Francisco: $159,977
  • Oakland: $156,605

What Skills Can Increase a Benefits Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.98% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.92% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.55% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.98%
Microsoft Office 2.92%
PowerPoint 1.55%
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 Manager's salary.

  • Vendor Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Workday: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Vendor Management $135,933
6%
Project Management $134,651
5%
Workday $134,651
5%
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Benefits Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Benefits Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $143,556. While startup companies pay approximate $121,445.

Benefits Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $121,445
Growth Stage 51~500 $128,443
Established 501~5000 $138,629
Enterprise 5000+ $143,556

Benefits Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Benefits Manager 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 Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Benefits Manager positions in Biotechnology or Chemicals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Benefits Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Benefits Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$179,535$86.040%
Business Services$173,123$83.035%
Construction$166,711$80.030%
Energy & Utilities$160,299$77.025%
Healthcare$153,887$74.020%

How Education impacts an Benefits Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Benefits Manager 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 Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $118,347 and $125,959.

Benefits Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Benefits Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 11.7%
Associates 6.6%
Bachelors 54.6%
Masters 25.7%
Doctorate 0.6%
View as Graph

Benefits Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Benefits Manager'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 August 01, 2026
$116,335
Average $128,239/year
$139,483
$9,695
Average $10,687/month
$11,624
$2,237
Average $2,466/week
$2,682
$56
Average $62/hour
$67
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $139,483 $11,624 $2,682 $67
Average $128,239 $10,687 $2,466 $62
25th Percentile $116,335 $9,695 $2,237 $56

Benefits Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Benefits Manager

Next Role

Advancement

For a Benefits Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Benefits Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $171,186 - a projected growth of 33% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Benefits Manager

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

Common company salaries for Benefits Manager

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

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FAQ about Benefits Manager

1. Where can a Benefits Manager earn the most?

A Benefits Manager'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 Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Benefits Manager is $161,748.

2. What is the highest pay for Benefits Manager?

The highest pay for Benefits Manager is $149,720.

3. What is the lowest pay for Benefits Manager?

The lowest pay for Benefits Manager is $105,497.

4. What are the responsibilities of Benefits Manager?

Develops, implements, administers, and maintains benefits programs, policies, and procedures. Ensures programs are equitable, meet employee needs, comply with legal requirements, and are cost effective. Develops benefits communications and counsels employees on benefits related issues. Evaluates existing benefits programs against peer organizations to determine competitiveness, trends and developments. Requires a bachelor's degree. May require Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS). Typically reports to director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Benefits Manager?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Benefits Manager roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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.

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