Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of benefit specialist salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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Connecticut has the highest benefit specialist salary of $55,731
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Montana has the lowest benefit specialist salary of $28,208
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The national average salary for benefit specialists is $48,756
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The national hourly pay for benefit specialists is $23.44
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In today’s job market, salary remains a top priority for job seekers, especially as inflation and cost of living concerns continue to rise. As such, understanding how much benefit specialists earn in various locations is crucial for those entering or advancing in this field.
Numerous factors can influence your potential earnings, including geographic location, experience level, and the specific industry you work in. While salaries can vary significantly from city to city, the state averages provide a useful benchmark for your salary expectations.
Connecticut leads the way for benefit specialist salaries, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in this field.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for benefit specialist salaries:
Let’s take a look at how we got here and a full ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Benefit Specialists By State
| Rank | State | Average Benefit Specialist Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $55,731 | $37,000 | $82,000 |
| 2 | California | $55,356 | $38,000 | $80,000 |
| 3 | New York | $54,615 | $36,000 | $81,000 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $54,317 | $36,000 | $81,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $53,787 | $36,000 | $79,000 |
| 6 | Vermont | $52,206 | $35,000 | $75,000 |
| 7 | Mississippi | $51,462 | $36,000 | $72,000 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $51,131 | $38,000 | $67,000 |
| 9 | Nevada | $50,725 | $35,000 | $73,000 |
| 10 | Virginia | $50,647 | $34,000 | $74,000 |
| 11 | Maryland | $50,560 | $34,000 | $75,000 |
| 12 | Alaska | $50,126 | $43,000 | $57,000 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $49,990 | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| 14 | Colorado | $49,644 | $36,000 | $68,000 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $49,464 | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $49,318 | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $48,177 | $35,000 | $66,000 |
| 18 | Oregon | $47,960 | $34,000 | $67,000 |
| 19 | Illinois | $47,801 | $33,000 | $67,000 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $47,277 | $34,000 | $64,000 |
| 21 | Washington | $47,162 | $34,000 | $64,000 |
| 22 | Texas | $46,067 | $32,000 | $65,000 |
| 23 | Delaware | $45,192 | $30,000 | $67,000 |
| 24 | Ohio | $44,906 | $31,000 | $64,000 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $44,370 | $30,000 | $64,000 |
| 26 | Georgia | $44,185 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 27 | Indiana | $43,846 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 28 | Missouri | $43,757 | $31,000 | $61,000 |
| 29 | Kansas | $43,063 | $31,000 | $59,000 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $42,114 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 31 | Arizona | $41,886 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $41,723 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $41,590 | $29,000 | $58,000 |
| 34 | Michigan | $41,506 | $28,000 | $59,000 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $41,020 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 36 | Alabama | $40,931 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 37 | Iowa | $40,704 | $29,000 | $56,000 |
| 38 | Maine | $40,307 | $27,000 | $58,000 |
| 39 | Idaho | $40,272 | $29,000 | $55,000 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $39,997 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 41 | Utah | $39,837 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 42 | Florida | $39,524 | $26,000 | $57,000 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $39,198 | $27,000 | $55,000 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $38,765 | $28,000 | $52,000 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $37,089 | $25,000 | $54,000 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $35,276 | $25,000 | $49,000 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $33,724 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $33,105 | $23,000 | $45,000 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $28,547 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 50 | Montana | $28,208 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
Methodology: Benefit Specialist Salary By State
To better understand benefit specialist pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data across multiple reputable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and actual job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to determine the average pay for benefit specialists by state.
Benefit Specialist Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for benefit specialists?
The highest-paid state for benefit specialists is Connecticut with an average salary of $55,731 per year.
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What city pays benefit specialists the most?
San Francisco, CA pays benefit specialists the most with an average salary of $56,557 per year.
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What is the worst state for benefit specialists?
The worst state for benefit specialists is Montana with an average salary of $28,208 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
