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The differences between compensation consultants and benefit directors 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 consultant and a benefit director. Additionally, a benefit director has an average salary of $110,567, which is higher than the $90,436 average annual salary of a compensation consultant.
The top three skills for a compensation consultant include human resources, project management and data analysis. The most important skills for a benefit director are human resources, oversight, and ERISA.
| Compensation Consultant | Benefit Director | |
| Yearly salary | $90,436 | $110,567 |
| Hourly rate | $43.48 | $53.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 11,745 | 9,650 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A compensation consultant is responsible for supporting the human resources department's operations by reviewing the organization's compensation policies and programs, ensuring that the guidelines adhere to state regulations and requirements. Compensation consultants conduct market research analysis to identify salary grades according to job positions and financial stability. They also study benefit plans and facilitate the dissemination of information by organizing orientations and utilizing the company's media platforms. A compensation consultant should have excellent knowledge of the payroll processes to respond to employees' inquiries and concerns and settle salary discrepancies.
Benefits directors are professionals who plan and direct the overall design, implementation, and administration of an organization's health and welfare benefits programs. To support the decision making of the management, these directors are required to analyze benefit options and predict future costs. They should study programs so that they can identify benefit options as well as obtain advice from consultants. Benefits directors must study existing and new legislation so that they can comply with federal, state, and legal requirements and advise the management on needed actions.
Compensation consultants and benefit directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Compensation Consultant | Benefit Director | |
| Average salary | $90,436 | $110,567 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $124,000 | Between $73,000 And $165,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Portland, ME |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Cornerstone Research |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a compensation consultant and a benefit director in terms of educational background:
| Compensation Consultant | Benefit Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between compensation consultants' and benefit directors' demographics:
| Compensation Consultant | Benefit Director | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9% | Male, 40.0% Female, 60.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 8.4% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 7.9% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 35% | 35% |