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Benefits clerk vs human resource specialist

The differences between benefits clerks and human resource specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a benefits clerk, becoming a human resource specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a human resource specialist has an average salary of $53,143, which is higher than the $34,841 average annual salary of a benefits clerk.

The top three skills for a benefits clerk include payroll system, data entry and open enrollment. The most important skills for a human resource specialist are data entry, oversight, and life insurance.

Benefits clerk vs human resource specialist overview

Benefits ClerkHuman Resource Specialist
Yearly salary$34,841$53,143
Hourly rate$16.75$25.55
Growth rate-3%8%
Number of jobs75,45450,511
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4841
Years of experience46

Benefits clerk vs human resource specialist salary

Benefits clerks and human resource specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Benefits ClerkHuman Resource Specialist
Average salary$34,841$53,143
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $44,000Between $36,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateMinnesotaNew Jersey
Best paying companyMonarch Casino & ResortMeta
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between benefits clerk and human resource specialist education

There are a few differences between a benefits clerk and a human resource specialist in terms of educational background:

Benefits ClerkHuman Resource Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Benefits clerk vs human resource specialist demographics

Here are the differences between benefits clerks' and human resource specialists' demographics:

Benefits ClerkHuman Resource Specialist
Average age4841
Gender ratioMale, 13.3% Female, 86.7%Male, 26.9% Female, 73.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 5.9% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%9%

Differences between benefits clerk and human resource specialist duties and responsibilities

Benefits clerk example responsibilities.

  • Examine HMO documents to verify eligibility to process or reject into or from a manage care plan when necessary.
  • Enter employee data in HRIS system.
  • Used ADP HR/B software for benefits enrollment and reports.
  • Maintain retirement (401k) plan, FMLA and personnel records.
  • Monitor FMLA, CFRA, PDL, and personal leave of absence and premiums payments.
  • Update and maintain benefits data in the HRIS system to ensure accuracy and integrity of employee information.
  • Show more

Human resource specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage site KRONOS payroll, time and attendance, and vacation tracking for hourly.
  • Manage new hire and current employee paperwork that includes status change forms, W-4s, I-9s, etc.
  • Lead a compliance initiative to ensure successful transition to the e-Verify employment verification process.
  • Integrate efforts on actions and programs where joint OPM functional effort are necessary to accomplish recruitment and enhance organizational effectiveness.
  • Advise, coach, and counsele managers and Sr.
  • Assist with affirmative action reporting, VETS100 and EEO-1 submission.
  • Show more

Benefits clerk vs human resource specialist skills

Common benefits clerk skills
  • Payroll System, 17%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • Open Enrollment, 7%
  • Cobra, 7%
  • HRIS, 5%
  • Human Resources, 5%
Common human resource specialist skills
  • Data Entry, 10%
  • Oversight, 9%
  • Life Insurance, 9%
  • Human Resources Policies, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Timekeeping, 5%

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