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The differences between compensation directors 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 director and a benefit director. Additionally, a compensation director has an average salary of $117,485, which is higher than the $110,567 average annual salary of a benefit director.
The top three skills for a compensation director include human resources, healthcare and HRIS. The most important skills for a benefit director are human resources, oversight, and ERISA.
| Compensation Director | Benefit Director | |
| Yearly salary | $117,485 | $110,567 |
| Hourly rate | $56.48 | $53.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 18,492 | 9,650 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A compensation director spearheads and oversees an organization or company's compensation programs, ensuring they adhere to state and federal standards. They primarily set objectives and guidelines among their staff, delegate responsibilities, facilitate research and assessments, and develop strategies to optimize compensation operations. They also lead the development of employee benefits, including salary structures, retirement plans, and insurance policies. Additionally, as a director, it is essential to empower staff to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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 directors and benefit directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Compensation Director | Benefit Director | |
| Average salary | $117,485 | $110,567 |
| Salary range | Between $85,000 And $160,000 | Between $73,000 And $165,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beaverton, OR | Portland, ME |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Milbank | Cornerstone Research |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a compensation director and a benefit director in terms of educational background:
| Compensation Director | Benefit Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between compensation directors' and benefit directors' demographics:
| Compensation Director | Benefit Director | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.8% Female, 46.2% | Male, 40.0% Female, 60.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 8.3% White, 66.9% 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% |