How to hire a Benefits Analyst

How to hire a benefits analyst, step by step

Here's a step-by-step benefits analyst hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a benefits analyst job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new benefits analyst
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a Benefits Analyst do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the benefits analyst you need to hire. Certain benefits analyst roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a benefits analyst to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a benefits analyst that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of benefits analysts and their corresponding salaries.

   Type Of Benefits Analyst	Description	Hourly Rate
   Benefits Analyst	Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists conduct an organization’s compensation and benefits programs. They also evaluate position descriptions to determine details such as a person’s classification and salary.	$17-33
   Workers Compensation Coordinator	Workers compensation coordinators work with supervisors to identify incident causes and the best corrective actions. They train coordinators and supervisors on reporting and managing workers' compensation claims... Show More	$19-43
   Plan Administrator	A plan administrator's duties depend on their line of work or place of employment. Still, they typically include understanding the client or the project's needs, developing plans, performing research and analysis, liaising with internal and external parties, setting goals, establishing guidelines and timelines, and developing strategies to optimize procedures... Show More	$21-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Customer Service
   • HR
   • HRIS
   • Payroll
   • PowerPoint
   • RFP
   • Plan Design
   • HIPAA
   • Cobra
   • Life Insurance
   • Claims Processing
   • ERISA
   • Strong Analytical
   • Open Enrollment

   Check All Skills

   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.
   • Screen clients for Medicaid and other health insurance eligibility.
   • Provide functional expertise and leadership of retiree benefits administration during the RFP selection process for outsourcing retirement administration.

   More Benefits Analyst duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the benefits analyst job description is a good way to get more applicants. A benefits analyst salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a benefits analyst in New Mexico may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level benefits analyst. Additionally, a benefits analyst with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average benefits analyst salary

   $50,944yearly

   $24.49 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level benefits analyst salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 28, 2025

   Average benefits analyst salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	New York	$69,381	$33
   2	California	$66,779	$32
   3	Washington	$65,977	$32
   4	District of Columbia	$64,390	$31
   5	Virginia	$59,912	$29
   6	Massachusetts	$59,151	$28
   7	Connecticut	$58,117	$28
   8	Illinois	$55,483	$27
   9	Wisconsin	$54,152	$26
   10	Oregon	$53,701	$26
   11	Nebraska	$53,311	$26
   12	Minnesota	$52,634	$25
   13	Pennsylvania	$52,478	$25
   14	Colorado	$52,129	$25
   15	Georgia	$50,980	$25
   16	Michigan	$49,646	$24
   17	Maine	$48,058	$23
   18	Ohio	$48,051	$23
   19	Missouri	$47,691	$23
   20	Iowa	$47,339	$23

   Average benefits analyst salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Amd	$92,314	$44.38
   2	Yahoo	$90,302	$43.41
   3	Google	$86,890	$41.77
   4	ORIX USA	$84,324	$40.54	3
   5	Watson Wyatt	$79,685	$38.31
   6	Sempra Energy	$77,020	$37.03
   7	Nomura Securities	$76,378	$36.72	2
   8	FTI Consulting	$75,815	$36.45
   9	Ropes & Gray	$74,076	$35.61
   10	Activision Blizzard	$73,870	$35.51
   11	Tech Mahindra	$73,705	$35.44
   12	BNY Mellon	$73,352	$35.27	1
   13	Airtable	$72,897	$35.05
   14	Fifth Third Bank	$72,753	$34.98	7
   15	Simpson Thacher & Bartlett	$71,105	$34.19	3
   16	Unity Technologies	$71,099	$34.18
   17	Syngenta	$70,793	$34.04
   18	Wipro Limited	$70,561	$33.92
   19	Sony Electronics	$70,321	$33.81
   20	Reckitt Benckiser	$69,569	$33.45

4. Writing a Benefits Analyst Job Description

   A job description for a benefits analyst role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a benefits analyst job description:

   Benefits Analyst job description example

   At Pentair, you will work along-side passionate problem-solvers who are committed to the future of our planet. We put our purpose into practice, inspiring people to move, improve and enjoy life's essential resources for happier, healthier lives. From our residential and business water solutions, to our sustainable innovations and applications, our 11,250 global employees serve customers in more than 150 countries, working to help improve lives and the environment around the world.
   
   As a Pentair employee, you would enjoy a wide array of benefit options to help keep you and your family healthy and protected, a generous 401(k) and ESPP to help you save for retirement, plus paid time off and wellness programs to encourage a healthy work/life balance.
   
   We are looking for a Benefits Analyst to join our Golden Valley, MN team. As part of the enterprise benefits team, the Benefits Analyst will perform daily administrative activities and provide support for all U.S. and Canadian benefit programs. This position will ensure data accuracy within the benefit system, provide analytical reporting, support compliance activities, and prepare billing and funding for payment of claims and plan expenses. The Benefits Analyst will work in a hybrid capacity (time spent in the office and remote).
   YOU WILL
   Provide benefits issue resolution in partnership with HR Service Center and benefits system team Perform regular system and vendor audits to ensure data accuracy of employee enrollment Participate in annual open enrollment campaign for Health and Welfare plans Prepare weekly funding and monthly premium billings for appropriate signatures Support company compliance with federal and state laws relating to benefits (including but not limited to Affordable Care Act and HIPAA) Develop and document operating procedures to streamline processes Provide back-up support for enterprise benefits team roles Other duties and special projects as assigned
   
   KEY QUALIFICATIONS
   Exceptional organizational skills; must be able to prioritize, multitask and manage project deadlines Ability to problem solve Strong project management skills Strong oral and verbal communication skills Excellent analytical skills Positive customer service orientation Ability to develop strong working relationships with HR Business Partners, cross-functional teams, and external vendors Ability to function effectively in a rapidly changing, fast paced organization Must be highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPointKnowledge of benefit plan administration and compliance requirements Bachelors level degree or equivalent in a related field At least 2 years of experience in benefits or a related field
   
   Pentair is an equal opportunity employer
   #LI-hybrid
   
   Diversity and Inclusion:
   With our expanding global presence, cross-cultural insight and competence are essential for our ongoing success. We believe that a diverse workforce contributes different perspectives and creative ideas that enable us to continue to improve every day. Race, gender, ethnicity, country of origin, age, personal style, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, life experiences and many more factors contribute to this diversity.
   We take ongoing action to improve the diversity of our workforce by:
   Ensuring leadership involvement and ownership Attracting and retaining diverse talent at all levels Fostering a globally aware, inclusive culture Ensuring our practices are fair and non-discriminatory

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right benefits analyst for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with benefits analysts they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit benefits analysts who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your benefits analyst job on Zippia to find and recruit benefits analyst candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with benefits analyst candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new benefits analyst

   Once you've decided on a perfect benefits analyst candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new benefits analyst. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a benefits analyst?