Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
The differences between benefit specialists and benefits managers 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 manager. Additionally, a benefits manager has an average salary of $64,064, 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 manager are HR, customer service, and HRIS.
Benefit Specialist | Benefits Manager | |
Yearly Salary | $48,756 | $64,064 |
Hourly rate | $23.44 | $30.80 |
Growth Rate | 7% | 2% |
Number Of Jobs | 31,663 | 11,164 |
Job Satisfaction | - | - |
Most Common Degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
Average Age | 45 | 46 |
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 manager is primarily in charge of overseeing and handling a company's benefits programs and projects for employees. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with human resources to gather accurate data, improve existing benefits programs, and creating new ones in adherence to the company's policies and regulations. A benefits manager may also liaise with external agencies, develop activities for employee welfare, and resolve any issues regarding the benefits programs. Furthermore, they may perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, manage budgets, and maintain records of all transactions.
Benefit specialists and benefits managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
Benefit Specialist | Benefits Manager | |
Average Salary | $48,756 | $64,064 |
Salary Range | Between $34,000 And $68,000 | Between $39,000 And $104,000 |
Highest Paying City | San Francisco, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
Highest Paying State | Connecticut | Pennsylvania |
Best Paying Company | Qorvo | Microsoft |
Best Paying Industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a benefit specialist and a benefits manager in terms of educational background:
Benefit Specialist | Benefits Manager | |
Most Common Degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
Most Common Major | Business | Business |
Most Common College | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between benefit specialists' and benefits managers' demographics:
Benefit Specialist | Benefits Manager | |
Average Age | 45 | 46 |
Gender Ratio | Male, 21.1% Female, 78.9% | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% |
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, 10.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 8.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
LGBT Percentage | 9% | 35% |