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The differences between benefit specialists and benefits advisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a benefit specialist and a benefits advisor. Additionally, a benefits advisor has an average salary of $71,377, which is higher than the $48,756 average annual salary of a benefit specialist.
The top three skills for a benefit specialist include customer service, HR and patients. The most important skills for a benefits advisor are insurance benefits, patients, and inbound calls.
| Benefit Specialist | Benefits Advisor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,756 | $71,377 |
| Hourly rate | $23.44 | $34.32 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 31,663 | 48,023 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A benefits specialist is responsible for analyzing and processing the compensation package of an organization, ensuring that the salary and benefits received by an employee adhere to the current legislation procedures. Benefits specialists develop benefits programs, adjusting pension plans and insurance options as needed, and updating the employees on recent updates and changes. A benefits specialist responds to employees' inquiries, addresses their concerns, and manages benefits issues. A benefits specialist must have a clear understanding of benefits policies and processes to educate employees about the benefits structure.
A benefits advisor specializes in devising benefits programs and strategies for a workforce, ensuring they are well-compensated for their hard work. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis to identify the needs of employees in a company, studying the benefit programs of competitors, and assessing the existing programs while putting the company's welfare into consideration. They must prepare reports and presentations for clients, provide cost-estimates and business plans, and evaluate risks, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Benefit specialists and benefits advisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Benefit Specialist | Benefits Advisor | |
| Average salary | $48,756 | $71,377 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $68,000 | Between $46,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Washington |
| Best paying company | Qorvo | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a benefit specialist and a benefits advisor in terms of educational background:
| Benefit Specialist | Benefits Advisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between benefit specialists' and benefits advisors' demographics:
| Benefit Specialist | Benefits Advisor | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.1% Female, 78.9% | Male, 41.2% Female, 58.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.7% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |