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What is a benefits & payroll administrator and how to become one
Benefits & payroll administrators primarily handle, to no one's surprise, employee benefits and payroll. They oversee the accounting, bookkeeping, and distribution of the employees' salaries and benefits. Whenever an employee has any issues concerning their wages or insurance, benefits & payroll administrators ensure that it gets to the proper channels.
Most employers require their benefits & payroll administrators to have a bachelor's degree. Benefits & payroll administrators in the United States commonly major in business, accounting, human resources management, and psychology. Prior experience in accounting or human resource jobs will also give you a significant advantage in the job market.
The average benefits & payroll administrator in the United States earns a yearly salary of $44,000. That's more or less $21 an hour. However, top earners can make as much as $56,000. Employers like Verisk Analytics, Robert Half International, and System One pay their benefits & payroll administrators a competitive salary of $48,000 or more on average.
What general advice would you give to a benefits & payroll administrator?
Eileen Cyr Ed.D.
Professor, Springfield College
Breathe - the airline advice of putting on your oxygen mask before assisting others is 100% applicable to today's teachers.
Avg. Salary $50,662
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 7%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.34%
Asian 7.78%
Black or African American 10.59%
Hispanic or Latino 15.08%
Unknown 3.64%
White 62.58%
Genderfemale 88.33%
male 11.67%
Age - 45American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 45Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Benefits & payroll administrator career paths
Key steps to become a benefits & payroll administrator
Explore benefits & payroll administrator education requirements
Start to develop specific benefits & payroll administrator skills
Skills Percentages Human Resources 6.49% HRIS 6.34% Cobra 5.63% Payroll System 4.12% Open Enrollment 3.89% Complete relevant benefits & payroll administrator training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New benefits & payroll administrators 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 & payroll administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real benefits & payroll administrator resumes.Gain additional benefits & payroll administrator certifications
More About CertificationsBenefits & payroll administrator 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 & payroll administrator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for benefits & payroll administrators include Payroll Certification and Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).
Research benefits & payroll administrator duties and responsibilities
- Manage HRIS, recruiting, training, and time and attendance programs as well as trouble shooting.
- Create reports using SQL database and manage reports, perform from internet-base tools for research projects need for client insight.
- Ensure accuracy of all benefit enrollments and life status changes record in the HRIS to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information.
- Complete weekly internal payroll reports and fund employee accounts (HSA and 401K).
Prepare your benefits & payroll administrator resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your benefits & payroll administrator 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 & payroll administrator 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 & payroll administrator resume templates
Build a professional benefits & payroll administrator 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 & payroll administrator resume.
Apply for benefits & payroll administrator jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a benefits & payroll administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first benefits & payroll administrator job
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Average benefits & payroll administrator salary
The average benefits & payroll administrator salary in the United States is $50,662 per year or $24 per hour. Benefits & payroll administrator salaries range between $37,000 and $68,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
