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Benefits advisor vs senior benefits specialist

The differences between benefits advisors and senior benefits 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 benefits advisor and a senior benefits specialist. Additionally, a benefits advisor has an average salary of $71,377, which is higher than the $50,211 average annual salary of a senior benefits specialist.

The top three skills for a benefits advisor include insurance benefits, patients and inbound calls. The most important skills for a senior benefits specialist are customer service, HR, and HRIS.

Benefits advisor vs senior benefits specialist overview

Benefits AdvisorSenior Benefits Specialist
Yearly salary$71,377$50,211
Hourly rate$34.32$24.14
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs48,02334,999
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does a benefits advisor do?

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.

What does a senior benefits specialist do?

Typically working in a company's human resources department, a senior benefits specialist manages benefits and compensation programs for the employees. They are mostly in charge of designing and developing plans for retirement, stock ownership, healthcare, and pension. To carry out their duties, they must perform extensive research and analysis, coordinate efforts with staff and other experts, put costs and budgets into consideration, and liaise with external parties such as vendors and plan providers, building positive relationships for a smooth workflow. Moreover, a senior benefits specialist must also assist employees by answering their inquiries and explaining how the benefits programs work.

Benefits advisor vs senior benefits specialist salary

Benefits advisors and senior benefits specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Benefits AdvisorSenior Benefits Specialist
Average salary$71,377$50,211
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $109,000Between $34,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WA-
Highest paying stateWashington-
Best paying companyChevron-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between benefits advisor and senior benefits specialist education

There are a few differences between a benefits advisor and a senior benefits specialist in terms of educational background:

Benefits AdvisorSenior Benefits Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Benefits advisor vs senior benefits specialist demographics

Here are the differences between benefits advisors' and senior benefits specialists' demographics:

Benefits AdvisorSenior Benefits Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 41.2% Female, 58.8%Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 7.3% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between benefits advisor and senior benefits specialist duties and responsibilities

Benefits advisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage broker and group accounts throughout the year administering qualify changes, terminations, and ACA compliance.
  • Create reports using SQL database and manage reports, perform from internet-base tools for research projects need for client insight.
  • Function as a liaison between the patient, hospital and governmental agencies to obtain documentation require for Medicaid eligibility determination.
  • Maintain employee benefit records in HRIS system, including qualifying event records, personal information updates, and employment status changes.
  • Evaluate patients for existing insurance coverage, federal and state assistance programs, or hospital charity application.
  • Use tactful and effective interview techniques to obtain pertinent information to assure accurate eligibility determination for Medicaid.
  • Show more

Senior benefits specialist example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage leave of absence program in accordance with company policy, FMLA and applicable state laws.
  • Create reports using SQL database and manage reports, perform from internet-base tools for research projects need for client insight.
  • Coordinate with STD/FMLA carrier and payroll to process disability and FMLA claims.
  • Set up new hires in Kronos time & labor system as well as work schedules.
  • Act as liaison with vendors to insure accurate and timely claims processing according to HCFA, HIPAA and Medicare guidelines.
  • Prepare weekly payroll utilizing Kronos software.
  • Show more

Benefits advisor vs senior benefits specialist skills

Common benefits advisor skills
  • Insurance Benefits, 21%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Inbound Calls, 10%
  • Medicare Advantage, 6%
  • Insurance Products, 6%
  • Medicaid, 5%
Common senior benefits specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • HR, 9%
  • HRIS, 7%
  • Life Insurance, 4%
  • Benefits Administration, 4%
  • Cobra, 4%

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