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The differences between compensation analysts and senior benefits 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 compensation analyst and a senior benefits specialist. Additionally, a compensation analyst has an average salary of $66,487, which is higher than the $50,211 average annual salary of a senior benefits specialist.
The top three skills for a compensation analyst include HR, compensation programs and HRIS. The most important skills for a senior benefits specialist are customer service, HR, and HRIS.
| Compensation Analyst | Senior Benefits Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $66,487 | $50,211 |
| Hourly rate | $31.96 | $24.14 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 19,344 | 34,999 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Compensation analysts are responsible for managing company compensation programs by evaluating and analyzing employees' salaries, assist the planning and development of a new and modified sales compensation plan, as well as managing sales compensation short-term incentive programs. The compensation programs are used to improve hiring and boost employee retention. These analysts are skilled and knowledgeable about managing labor costs, benefits structures, and compensation analysis to determine if the employees are fairly compensated.
Typically working in a company's human resources department, a senior benefits specialist manages benefits and compensation programs for the employees. They are mostly in charge of designing and developing plans for retirement, stock ownership, healthcare, and pension. To carry out their duties, they must perform extensive research and analysis, coordinate efforts with staff and other experts, put costs and budgets into consideration, and liaise with external parties such as vendors and plan providers, building positive relationships for a smooth workflow. Moreover, a senior benefits specialist must also assist employees by answering their inquiries and explaining how the benefits programs work.
Compensation analysts and senior benefits specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Compensation Analyst | Senior Benefits Specialist | |
| Average salary | $66,487 | $50,211 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $90,000 | Between $34,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Meta | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a compensation analyst and a senior benefits specialist in terms of educational background:
| Compensation Analyst | Senior Benefits Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between compensation analysts' and senior benefits specialists' demographics:
| Compensation Analyst | Senior Benefits Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.2% Female, 63.8% | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 7.7% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 7.3% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |