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The differences between benefits representatives and compensation specialists 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 representative and a compensation specialist. Additionally, a compensation specialist has an average salary of $67,722, which is higher than the $38,694 average annual salary of a benefits representative.
The top three skills for a benefits representative include customer service, patients and insurance coverage. The most important skills for a compensation specialist are human resources, compensation programs, and customer service.
| Benefits Representative | Compensation Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $38,694 | $67,722 |
| Hourly rate | $18.60 | $32.56 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 13,058 | 32,642 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A benefits representative is responsible for facilitating and disseminating information about benefits programs and policies across all employees in the company. Benefits representatives respond to the employees' inquiries and concerns of benefits processes, update their benefits information, and resolve discrepancies and disputes. They also support the company's initiatives on developing new benefits plans, implementing campaigns, as well as writing application guides for reference. A benefits representative should have excellent communication and organizational skills as they also conduct surveys to check the efficiency and effectiveness of the benefits programs and adjusting procedures as needed.
A compensation specialist is responsible for evaluating the organization's benefits package for the employees, following the state regulations and legislation procedures. Compensation specialists identify the staff needs and develop opportunities that would maximize productivity and increase efficiency. They also analyze the market performance to adjust compensation rates according to roles as needed with the coordination of the finance department. A compensation specialist facilitates orientations for new programs and informs the employees about any changes in the payment system.
Benefits representatives and compensation specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Benefits Representative | Compensation Specialist | |
| Average salary | $38,694 | $67,722 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $51,000 | Between $41,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | BlackRock | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a benefits representative and a compensation specialist in terms of educational background:
| Benefits Representative | Compensation Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between benefits representatives' and compensation specialists' demographics:
| Benefits Representative | Compensation Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.3% Female, 69.7% | Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.4% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |