How do I become a compensation and benefits analyst?

To become a compensation and benefits analyst, you need a bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field. This position aims to research benefits packages to attract the best candidates while efficiently managing the company's budget.

How To Become A Benefits Analyst: What It Is and Career Path

What is a benefits analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Mark Evans

A benefits analyst is a person who specializes in evaluating employee benefits programs. They assess the costs and benefits of various plans and make recommendations to employers based on their findings. Benefits analysts also provide guidance to employees on how to enroll in and make the most of their benefits packages. Overall, a benefits analyst plays a critical role in helping companies design and maintain competitive benefits packages for their employees.

What general advice would you give to a benefits analyst?

Dr. Mark Evans

Area Chair and Dale K. Cline Associate Dean for Accountancy, Wake Forest University

Add value beyond what you are asked to do. Take ownership of your work. Volunteer for the most difficult jobs and clients.

ScoreBenefits AnalystUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $50,944

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.0

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.34%

Asian 7.84%

Black or African American 11.13%

Hispanic or Latino 15.22%

Unknown 3.63%

White 61.83%

Gender

female 72.15%

male 27.85%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a benefits analyst?

Pros

Competitive Salary
Opportunities for advancement
High demand for skilled benefits analysts
Balanced work/life split
Professional development opportunities are available

Cons

Heavy workload and tight deadlines
Constantly changing regulations and policies
Difficult to communicate complex information to employees
Requires extensive knowledge of benefits and insurance industry
Monotonous at times

Key steps to become a benefits analyst

Explore benefits analyst education requirements

Most common benefits analyst degrees

Bachelor's

70.5 %

Associate

12.1 %

Master's

10.1 %

Start to develop specific benefits analyst skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	9.56%
HR	8.04%
HRIS	5.79%
Payroll	5.51%
PowerPoint	4.97%

Complete relevant benefits analyst training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New benefits analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a benefits analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real benefits analyst resumes.

Gain additional benefits analyst certifications

Benefits analyst certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific benefits analyst certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for benefits analysts include Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) and Group Benefits Associate (GBA).

More About Certifications

Research benefits analyst duties and responsibilities

Manage relationships with all FSA clients including supporting their employee inquiries, reporting, and explain policy and procedure.
Manage regulatory compliance with federal and state leave laws such as FMLA, ADA, CFRA, PDL and FEHA.
Create reports using SQL database and manage reports, perform from internet-base tools for research projects need for client insight.
Develop data analysis procedures to comply with ACA regulations.

Prepare your benefits analyst resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your benefits analyst resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a benefits analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable benefits analyst resume templates

Build a professional benefits analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your benefits analyst resume.