Occupation · SOC 13-1141
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
Conduct programs of compensation and benefits and job analysis for employer. May specialize in specific areas, such as position classification and pension programs.
Median wage
$77,020
$48,300–$128,830
Projected growth
+5.3%
Average growth
Annual openings
560
per year
Employed (US)
102,370
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
2,644 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingWritingActive LearningSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisMonitoringMathematicsJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationPersuasionNegotiationCoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesInstructingOperations AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesScienceManagement of Material ResourcesProgrammingTechnology DesignOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Personnel and Human ResourcesEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceMathematicsAdministration and ManagementEconomics and AccountingAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsLaw and GovernmentCommunications and MediaEducation and TrainingPsychologyPublic Safety and SecuritySociology and AnthropologySales and MarketingTherapy and CounselingTelecommunicationsProduction and ProcessingMedicine and DentistryGeographyDesignTransportationForeign LanguageEngineering and TechnologyChemistryBiologyBuilding and ConstructionMechanicalHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyPhysicsFine ArtsFood Production
Technology & tools
ADP Enterprise eTIMEADP Workforce NowActuarial Systems Corporation AIMActuarial Systems Corporation Compliance Testing SystemActuarial Systems Corporation DV DirectActuarial Systems Corporation Defined Benefit SystemActuarial Systems Corporation Document Generation and Management SystemApex Business Software iBenefitsAscentis Employee Self-ServiceAscentis HRBEMAS PayDirectBargaining PowerBenAssistBenaissance COBRApointBeneLink ConnectBeneXL Technologies Pension Administration SystemBenefit Plan Systems Corporation The Plan AdministratorBenefit Software Fringe FactsBenefitFocus HR in TouchBenelogicByrne Software Technologies Visual HCSCallidus TrueCompCeridian Dayforce enterprise HCMClayton Wallis CompGeo Online Professional Forecast LibraryDataPath dpiSuiteDocument management system softwareEbenefits Solutions Benefits ManagementEmployee self-service softwareHalogen eCompensationHealthcare common procedure coding system HCPCSHuman resource information system (HRIS)Human resource management software HRMSHumanic Design Employmee Self-ServiceHumanic Design Human Resources Management SystemIBM CognosIBM Cognos ImpromptuIBM SPSS StatisticsIncentive management system softwareInfinityHRKronos Workforce Timekeeper
Representative tasks
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsGetting InformationWorking with ComputersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesAnalyzing Data or InformationProcessing InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDocumenting/Recording InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersThinking CreativelyDeveloping and Building TeamsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleTraining and Teaching OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsCoaching and Developing OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesSelling or Influencing OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationAssisting and Caring for OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsHandling and Moving ObjectsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Employee benefits enrollment records — organize and update under supervisor guidance using HR software in a corporate HR department.Federal and state employment regulations — identify and apply basic compliance requirements by referencing established checklists in a mid-sized organization.Insurance and pension plan documents — review and summarize key provisions under direction while coordinating with plan carriers.Personnel handbooks and records — assist in preparing and maintaining accurate files using document management software in a structured HR environment.Compensation data — collect and enter into spreadsheet software following standard templates provided by senior analysts.HR policy terminology and classification frameworks — recognize and apply under direct oversight when responding to routine employee inquiries.Training program materials — assist in assembling and formatting curricula under guidance for delivery in an organizational learning environment.Benefits research resources — locate relevant benchmark studies and regulatory updates using online databases with direction from a senior specialist.Time accounting software — enter and verify employee records following established procedures in a payroll-integrated HR system.Active listening and questioning techniques — demonstrate when gathering employee concerns about benefits or compensation under supervisor observation.
developing
Employee insurance, pension, and savings plans — administer day-to-day operations with reduced oversight by coordinating directly with brokers and carriers in a multi-benefit environment.Federal and state compliance reporting requirements — prepare and submit required documentation on schedule, applying working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, and FLSA in a regulated corporate setting.Job classification and pay-grade structures — analyze and apply established frameworks to evaluate positions and recommend placements within a defined compensation system.Managers and employees — advise on standard employment regulations, benefit policies, and collective agreement provisions in routine consultation sessions.Benefits benchmarking data — research, compile, and interpret findings using business intelligence software to support policy review recommendations.Training sessions on compensation and benefits topics — conduct for small employee groups using prepared curricula in an onsite or virtual format.ERP and HRIS platforms — navigate and query to extract workforce data for compensation analysis in an integrated enterprise environment.Personnel records and policy handbooks — maintain accuracy and version control using document management systems in compliance with records-retention policies.Compensation survey submissions — complete and reconcile employer data against industry databases to inform salary range updates.Problem sensitivity — apply when identifying discrepancies between job descriptions and actual duties during position classification reviews.
proficient
Total compensation programs — design, evaluate, and refine autonomously across multiple benefit and pay components, ensuring market competitiveness in a large or complex organization.Federal and state regulatory compliance — conduct independent audits of HR practices, identify gaps, and implement corrective action plans across organizational units.Non-routine employee benefit issues — resolve complex claims disputes and plan interpretation questions by applying advanced knowledge of plan documents and applicable law.Senior managers and executives — advise on classification program design, compensation philosophy, and benefit cost containment strategies in high-stakes decision contexts.Comprehensive benefits benchmarking and cost analyses — lead using analytical and scientific software to build multi-year recommendations for plan modifications.Compensation and benefits training curricula — develop from scope through delivery for HR staff and line managers, incorporating adult-learning principles in blended-format programs.Collective bargaining agreement provisions — interpret and apply to compensation and benefits decisions, coordinating with labor relations counsel during negotiations.Job analysis methodologies — apply across the full job family spectrum to produce legally defensible classification determinations and FLSA exemption status opinions.Systems evaluation — assess the effectiveness of existing HRIS and payroll platforms and recommend enhancements to support data-driven compensation decisions.Written compensation and benefits policy documents — author and finalize for organization-wide distribution, ensuring legal accuracy and plain-language accessibility.
advanced
Enterprise-wide total rewards strategy — set direction and lead implementation across compensation, benefits, and recognition programs aligned to organizational objectives and talent philosophy.Regulatory risk posture — establish governance frameworks and compliance monitoring systems that proactively manage exposure to federal and state employment law changes at organizational scale.Compensation and benefits center of excellence — build and lead, defining team standards, technology roadmaps, and capability development plans for specialist staff.Executive and board-level stakeholders — present and defend compensation philosophy, pay equity analyses, and benefits cost projections to drive informed enterprise decision-making.HR technology ecosystem — evaluate and select ERP, HRIS, and business intelligence platforms, negotiating vendor contracts and overseeing implementation to optimize compensation data integrity.Organizational compensation benchmark position — lead external market research initiatives and interpret findings to author multi-year pay structure redesigns that attract and retain key talent.Company-wide compliance culture — champion through policy leadership, training program oversight, and cross-functional partnerships with legal, finance, and operations leadership.Junior and mid-level specialists — mentor and develop through structured coaching, stretch assignments, and performance feedback within a professional HR team.Benefits plan innovation — pioneer adoption of emerging plan designs, wellness incentives, and voluntary benefits by applying systems analysis to workforce demographic and utilization data.Cross-organizational job evaluation and equity review programs — lead at enterprise scale, applying advanced inductive and deductive reasoning to ensure equitable, legally defensible classification and pay outcomes.
Also known as
42 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Benefit Programs SpecialistBenefits Administrator (Benefits Admin)Benefits AnalystBenefits ConsultantBenefits CoordinatorBenefits ProfessionalBenefits Representative (Benefits Rep)Benefits SpecialistClaims Benefit SpecialistCompensation AnalystCompensation and Benefits AnalystCompensation and Benefits SpecialistCompensation ConsultantCompensation ExpertCompensation SpecialistEmployee Benefits SpecialistEmployment AdvisorHealth Benefits SpecialistHealth Plan SpecialistHealthcare ConsultantHR Benefits Specialist (Human Resources Benefits Specialist)Job AnalystJob Specification WriterOccupational AnalystPayroll and Benefits Administrator (Payroll and Benefits Admin)Payroll SpecialistPension Administrator (Pension Admin)Pensions Retirement Plan SpecialistPersonnel SpecialistPosition Classification SpecialistPosition ClassifierReimbursement SpecialistRetirement Plan SpecialistSalary and Wage Administrator (Salary and Wage Admin)Sales Compensation AnalystUnion Contract Representative (Union Contract Rep)Wage AdjusterWage AnalystWage and Salary SpecialistWage Conciliator