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The differences between benefit specialists and senior human resources specialists 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 senior human resources specialist. Additionally, a senior human resources specialist has an average salary of $63,956, 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 senior human resources specialist are payroll, customer service, and HRIS.
| Benefit Specialist | Senior Human Resources Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $48,756 | $63,956 |
| Hourly rate | $23.44 | $30.75 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 31,663 | 46,316 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| 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 senior human resources specialist is responsible for monitoring the human resources operations of an organization, managing employment processes and policies, and handling staffing needs and concerns. Senior human resources specialists design training and programs to maintain staff's efficiency and maximize the employees' productivity to support business functional operations. They also coordinate with management leaders to identify their hiring needs, evaluating their specifications for recruitment. A senior human resources specialist reviews the company's policies and guidelines regularly, adjusting procedures according to state regulations and business requirements.
Benefit specialists and senior human resources specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Benefit Specialist | Senior Human Resources Specialist | |
| Average salary | $48,756 | $63,956 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $68,000 | Between $45,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New York |
| Best paying company | Qorvo | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a benefit specialist and a senior human resources specialist in terms of educational background:
| Benefit Specialist | Senior Human Resources Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between benefit specialists' and senior human resources specialists' demographics:
| Benefit Specialist | Senior Human Resources Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.1% Female, 78.9% | Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3% |
| 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, 11.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 7.7% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |