What are the main factors that influence a Total Rewards Specialist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Total Rewards Specialist's salary?

A Total Rewards Specialist's salary grows with experience: a Compensation and Benefits Analyst I (0-2 years)earns $64,065, a Compensation and Benefits Analyst II (2-4 years)earns $78,240, a Total Rewards Specialist (4-7 years)earns $97,217, a Compensation and Benefits Analyst IV (7+ years)earns $120,505, a Compensation and Benefits Analyst V (7-10 years)earns $168,661,

What are the highest paying states for a Total Rewards Specialist?

Total Rewards Specialist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Total Rewards Specialist roles are District of Columbia $107,352, California $106,945, Massachusetts $105,520. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Total Rewards Specialist roles make?

Salaries for Total Rewards Specialist level roles vary by specialization: Head of Total Rewards: $228,670; Director of Total Rewards: $196,800; Director, Total Rewards: $195,064; Manager of Total Rewards: $131,200; Total Rewards Manager: $130,960.

How do different companies affect a Total Rewards Specialist's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Total Rewards Specialist roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Total Rewards Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Total Rewards Specialist make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Total Rewards Specialist in the United States is $96,958 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, a Total Rewards Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $104,575
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $93,231 to $100,945
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $89,837

10% $89,837

50% (Median) $96,958

90% $104,575

Total Rewards Specialist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$100,945	$8,412	$1,941	$49
Average	$96,958	$8,080	$1,865	$47
25th Percentile	$93,231	$7,769	$1,793	$45

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Total Rewards Specialist Salaries

A Total Rewards Specialist'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Total Rewards Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Total Rewards Specialist'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:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $64,065
Early Career (1-2 years): $78,240
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $97,217
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $120,505
Expert (over 8 years): $168,661

Levels	Salary
Compensat... Level Total Rewards Specialist	$64,065
Compensat... Level Total Rewards Specialist	$78,240
Total Rew... Level Total Rewards Specialist	$97,217
Compensat... Level Total Rewards Specialist	$120,505
Compensat... Level Total Rewards Specialist	$168,661

View as Graph

How Do Total Rewards Specialist 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 Total Rewards Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $107,352.
California: $106,945.
Massachusetts: $105,520.

District of Columbia $107,352 California $106,945 Massachusetts $105,520 Washington $105,132 New Jersey $105,093 Alaska $104,957 Connecticut $103,619 New York $103,076

Hawaii $101,341 Rhode Island $100,526 Maryland $99,974 Minnesota $99,217 Colorado $98,926 Illinois $98,829 Oregon $98,461 Delaware $98,190

New Hampshire $98,019 Virginia $97,637 Pennsylvania $96,522 Nevada $95,960 North Dakota $95,775 Michigan $95,484 Wisconsin $95,378 Vermont $95,164

Texas $94,573 Maine $94,534 Arizona $94,476 Ohio $94,408 Georgia $93,516 Indiana $93,070 Wyoming $92,983 Utah $92,847

Iowa $92,789 Kansas $92,324 Louisiana $92,188 North Carolina $92,139 Missouri $92,120 Florida $91,742 Montana $91,538 Nebraska $91,344

Kentucky $91,238 South Carolina $90,850 Tennessee $90,607 Idaho $90,510 New Mexico $89,803 Oklahoma $89,648 Alabama $89,075 South Dakota $88,116

Arkansas $87,592 West Virginia $87,311 Mississippi $86,467

Top Paying Cities for Total Rewards Specialists

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: $122,293
San Francisco: $120,954
Oakland: $118,405

San Jose, CA $122,293

San Francisco, CA $120,954

Oakland, CA $118,405

New York, NY $111,637

Paramus, NJ $110,279

Queens Village, NY $110,274

Passaic, NJ $110,182

Bergenfield, NJ $110,174

Stamford, CT $109,960

Huntington, NY $109,921

Newark, NJ $109,204

Bridgeport, CT $108,999

Vallejo, CA $108,806

New Brunswick, NJ $108,768

Petaluma, CA $108,710

Middlesex, NJ $108,525

Somerset, NJ $108,457

Santa Cruz, CA $108,331

Boston, MA $107,740

Monterey, CA $107,400

Seattle, WA $107,178

Santa Rosa, CA $107,158

Los Angeles, CA $107,129

Juneau, AK $106,877

Washington, DC $106,770

Orange, CA $106,425

Santa Ana, CA $106,169

Long Beach, CA $106,072

Anaheim, CA $106,053

Anchorage, AK $106,004

Santa Maria, CA $105,714

Everett, WA $105,694

Danbury, CT $105,353

Bremerton, WA $105,219

Tacoma, WA $104,870

New Suffolk, NY $104,868

Sacramento, CA $104,841

Santa Barbara, CA $104,734

Trenton, NJ $104,628

San Diego, CA $104,628

Brockton, MA $104,521

Fairbanks, AK $104,283

Lompoc, CA $104,036

Lowell, MA $103,958

Ventura, CA $103,939

Nashua, NH $103,920

Stockton, CA $103,910

Modesto, CA $103,202

Poughkeepsie, NY $102,989

Olympia, WA $102,805

Kennewick, WA $102,805

New Haven, CT $102,766

Lawrence, MA $102,417

Hartford, CT $102,320

Riverside, CA $102,301

New Bedford, MA $102,204

Richland, WA $102,204

Bakersfield, CA $102,068

San Bernardino, CA $102,029

New Britain, CT $102,019

Atlantic City, NJ $102,019

New London, CT $101,981

Norwich, CT $101,952

Portsmouth, NH $101,932

Boulder, CO $101,727

Portland, OR $101,593

Worcester, MA $101,583

Minneapolis, MN $101,283

Philadelphia, PA $101,147

Honolulu, HI $100,827

Saint Paul, MN $100,780

Vineland, NJ $100,759

Providence, RI $100,478

Chicago, IL $100,197

Bellingham, WA $100,080

Springfield, MA $100,003

Baltimore, MD $99,974

Chico, CA $99,731

Pittsfield, MA $99,469

Manchester, NH $99,285

Spokane, WA $98,859

Denver, CO $98,849

Albany, NY $98,393

Troy, NY $98,354

Nassau, NY $98,251

Schenectady, NY $98,151

Wilmington, DE $98,073

Burlington, VT $97,937

Salem, OR $97,899

Portland, ME $97,598

Yakima, WA $97,501

Rochester, MN $97,201

Reno, NV $97,152

Fresno, CA $97,152

Milwaukee, WI $97,065

Detroit, MI $96,968

Ann Arbor, MI $96,951

Allentown, PA $96,939

Colorado Springs, CO $96,774

Syracuse, NY $96,726

Carson City, NV $96,726

Houston, TX $96,590

Eugene, OR $96,541

Gary, IN $96,425

Springfield, OR $96,347

Bismarck, ND $96,328

Galveston, TX $96,260

Medford, OR $96,115

Fort Collins, CO $96,076

Concord, NH $96,027

Austin, TX $95,998

Mesa, AZ $95,795

Reading, PA $95,785

Phoenix, AZ $95,775

Dallas, TX $95,746

Saint Cloud, MN $95,653

Madison, WI $95,523

Utica, NY $95,261

Rochester, NY $95,106

Des Moines, IA $95,097

Raleigh, NC $95,087

Atlanta, GA $94,941

Battle Creek, MI $94,912

Salt Lake City, UT $94,883

Lancaster, PA $94,738

Harrisburg, PA $94,602

Kansas City, MO $94,505

Champaign, IL $94,486

Kansas City, KS $94,486

Fort Worth, TX $94,476

Columbus, OH $94,460

Boca Raton, FL $94,437

Pittsburgh, PA $94,399

Richmond, VA $94,360

Indianapolis, IN $94,340

Cleveland, OH $94,331

Las Vegas, NV $94,214

Cincinnati, OH $94,214

Petersburg, VA $94,069

Huntsville, AL $93,923

Lansing, MI $93,858

Lebanon, PA $93,846

Pueblo, CO $93,836

Appleton, WI $93,807

Buffalo, NY $93,768

Dayton, OH $93,739

Racine, WI $93,720

Charlotte, NC $93,710

Saint Louis, MO $93,681

York, PA $93,623

Elkhart, IN $93,623

Gastonia, NC $93,604

Billings, MT $93,581

Beaumont, TX $93,555

Lorain, OH $93,536

Benton Harbor, MI $93,516

Toledo, OH $93,497

Binghamton, NY $93,448

Rock Hill, SC $93,439

Rockford, IL $93,390

Springfield, IL $93,351

Elyria, OH $93,342

Fargo, ND $93,342

Flagstaff, AZ $93,274

Fort Lauderdale, FL $93,216

Duluth, MN $93,157

Miami, FL $93,157

Cheyenne, WY $93,090

Grand Forks, ND $93,090

Bangor, ME $92,876

Cedar Rapids, IA $92,770

Durham, NC $92,729

Louisville, KY $92,721

Grand Rapids, MI $92,702

Hialeah, FL $92,692

Casper, WY $92,556

Scranton, PA $92,440

New Orleans, LA $92,411

Virginia Beach, VA $92,401

Akron, OH $92,353

Peoria, IL $92,227

Sarasota, FL $92,207

Nashville, TN $92,139

Omaha, NE $92,139

Green Bay, WI $92,139

Baton Rouge, LA $92,091

Charleston, SC $92,072

Jamestown, NY $92,023

Davenport, IA $92,023

Tucson, AZ $91,975

Saint Petersburg, FL $91,916

Tampa, FL $91,897

Evansville, IN $91,839

Port Arthur, TX $91,839

Bradenton, FL $91,800

Santa Fe, NM $91,625

Orlando, FL $91,451

Clearwater, FL $91,422

Canton, OH $91,218

La Crosse, WI $91,218

Albuquerque, NM $91,160

Newport News, VA $91,150

High Point, NC $91,121

Ogden, UT $91,083

Corpus Christi, TX $91,005

Norfolk, VA $90,947

Laramie, WY $90,947

Rock Island, IL $90,889

Saginaw, MI $90,869

Jacksonville, FL $90,860

Salisbury, NC $90,840

Boise, ID $90,821

Moline, IL $90,772

Fort Myers, FL $90,743

Memphis, TN $90,724

Tulsa, OK $90,675

Waterloo, IA $90,617

Spartanburg, SC $90,520

Lincoln, NE $90,472

Fort Wayne, IN $90,452

Provo, UT $90,443

Cedar Falls, IA $90,326

San Antonio, TX $90,287

Greensboro, NC $90,249

South Bend, IN $90,239

Savannah, GA $90,132

Muskegon, MI $90,094

Birmingham, AL $90,084

Winston Salem, NC $90,036

Lake Charles, LA $89,803

Anderson, IN $89,783

Lexington, KY $89,754

Augusta, GA $89,725

Greenville, SC $89,725

Lima, OH $89,648

Wichita, KS $89,638

Tuscaloosa, AL $89,638

Columbia, SC $89,551

Springfield, OH $89,531

Asheville, NC $89,376

Bloomington, IN $89,308

Knoxville, TN $88,959

Shreveport, LA $88,949

Wilmington, NC $88,823

Roanoke, VA $88,823

Topeka, KS $88,649

Frankfort, KY $88,638

Oklahoma City, OK $88,571

Chillicothe, OH $88,533

Longview, TX $88,523

Melbourne, FL $88,513

Sioux Falls, SD $88,358

Mobile, AL $88,348

Terre Haute, IN $88,310

Altoona, PA $88,251

Amarillo, TX $88,183

Killeen, TX $88,154

Fayetteville, AR $88,077

Chattanooga, TN $88,048

Sioux City, IA $87,960

Idaho Falls, ID $87,941

Lynchburg, VA $87,864

Gainesville, FL $87,737

Portsmouth, OH $87,689

Little Rock, AR $87,670

Lafayette, LA $87,631

Youngstown, OH $87,631

Daytona Beach, FL $87,573

Clarksville, TN $87,563

Pensacola, FL $87,553

Temple, TX $87,546

Hopkinsville, KY $87,262

Erie, PA $87,243

Florence, SC $87,204

Charleston, WV $87,049

Great Falls, MT $87,001

Macon, GA $86,865

Tallahassee, FL $86,855

Fayetteville, NC $86,836

Waco, TX $86,816

Helena, MT $86,749

Pine Bluff, AR $86,712

Vincennes, IN $86,593

Lubbock, TX $86,555

Alamogordo, NM $86,496

Twin Falls, ID $86,409

Rapid City, SD $86,380

Jackson, MS $86,206

Huntington, WV $86,199

Greenville, MS $86,196

Parkersburg, WV $86,097

Montgomery, AL $86,079

Wichita Falls, TX $85,983

Springfield, MO $85,983

Biloxi, MS $85,934

Monroe, LA $85,837

Johnstown, PA $85,769

Sumter, SC $85,730

Columbus, GA $85,721

Pascagoula, MS $85,537

Abilene, TX $85,537

Kingsport, TN $85,284

Albany, GA $85,284

Gulfport, MS $85,255

Alexandria, LA $84,935

Fort Smith, AR $84,693

El Paso, TX $84,431

Las Cruces, NM $83,995

Harlingen, TX $83,749

Pocatello, ID $83,733

Florence, AL $83,607

Brownsville, TX $83,588

Mcallen, TX $83,384

Dothan, AL $83,248

Columbus, MS $82,672

Altus, OK $82,221

Lawton, OK $82,036

Pierre, SD $81,687

Total Rewards Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Total Rewards Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Media and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Total Rewards Specialist positions in MFG Durable or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Total Rewards Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Total Rewards Specialist

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Media	$145,437	$70.0	50%
Insurance	$135,741	$65.0	40%
Business Services	$126,046	$61.0	30%
Aerospace & Defense	$121,198	$58.0	25%
Pharmaceuticals	$116,350	$56.0	20%

Total Rewards Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Total Rewards Specialist'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.

$93,231

Average $96,958/year

$100,945

$7,769

Average $8,080/month

$8,412

$1,793

Average $1,865/week

$1,941

$45

Average $47/hour

$49

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$100,945	$8,412	$1,941	$49
Average	$96,958	$8,080	$1,865	$47
25th Percentile	$93,231	$7,769	$1,793	$45

Salary Trends for Total Rewards Specialist

Salaries for a Total Rewards Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $97,469 in 2023 to around $89,774 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Total Rewards Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Total Rewards Specialist Over Time

$???
$97,469
$91,443
$89,774
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$97,469
2024	$91,443
2025	$89,774
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Total Rewards Specialist

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

Common company salaries for Total Rewards Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Total Rewards Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Total Rewards Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Total Rewards Specialist?

The Media industry offers the highest average compensation for Total Rewards Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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Total Rewards Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Total Rewards Specialist make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Total Rewards Specialist Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Total Rewards Specialist Salaries?

How Do Total Rewards Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Total Rewards Specialists

Total Rewards Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Total Rewards Specialist

Total Rewards Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salary Trends for Total Rewards Specialist

Average Annual Salary of Total Rewards Specialist Over Time

Most common benefits for Total Rewards Specialist

Common company salaries for Total Rewards Specialist

Find Your Next Total Rewards Specialist Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Total Rewards Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Total Rewards Specialist?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Total Rewards Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Total Rewards Specialist make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Total Rewards Specialist Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Total Rewards Specialist Salaries?

How Do Total Rewards Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Total Rewards Specialists

Total Rewards Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Total Rewards Specialist

Total Rewards Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of Jobs related to Total Rewards Specialist

Salary Trends for Total Rewards Specialist

Average Annual Salary of Total Rewards Specialist Over Time

Most common benefits for Total Rewards Specialist

Common company salaries for Total Rewards Specialist

Find Your Next Total Rewards Specialist Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Total Rewards Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Total Rewards Specialist?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?