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The differences between benefits consultants and benefits counselors 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 consultant and a benefits counselor. Additionally, a benefits consultant has an average salary of $79,068, which is higher than the $72,268 average annual salary of a benefits counselor.
The top three skills for a benefits consultant include HR, customer service and life insurance. The most important skills for a benefits counselor are veterans, HR, and open enrollment.
| Benefits Consultant | Benefits Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $79,068 | $72,268 |
| Hourly rate | $38.01 | $34.74 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 19,308 | 34,132 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 46 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Benefits consultants are executives who carry out many services for individuals and businesses. The consultants draft and organize policies within the organization. They handle vendors and manage the renewal of negotiations of HMO plans. It is their job to establish agency relationships with marketing representatives. They coordinate programs that involve self-funded or administered long-term and short-term disability, life insurance, and a cafeteria plan. Also, they prepare enterprises to meet health care law changes.
A benefits counselor manages the company or organization's employee benefits programs. Job responsibilities may include designing and administering the benefits program to ensure company and employee needs are met, as well as assisting and educating employees in benefits enrollment activities. This job requires a full understanding of health care benefits, comprising medical, dental, and life insurance, including knowledge of pertinent regulations and legislation. In addition, benefits counselors may also need to be knowledgeable and updated with other incentives such as pensions and stock ownership.
Benefits consultants and benefits counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Benefits Consultant | Benefits Counselor | |
| Average salary | $79,068 | $72,268 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $121,000 | Between $44,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | BMO Capital Markets | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a benefits consultant and a benefits counselor in terms of educational background:
| Benefits Consultant | Benefits Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between benefits consultants' and benefits counselors' demographics:
| Benefits Consultant | Benefits Counselor | |
| Average age | 46 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.7% Female, 53.3% | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 8.0% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 35% | 9% |