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Compensation manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a compensation manager. Compensation managers usually study business, human resources management, or psychology. 71% of compensation managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,480 real compensation manager resumes to see exactly what compensation manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for compensation managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online compensation manager courses to help get the education required to be a compensation manager.
There are certain compensation manager certifications that you should consider. These compensation manager certifications include Certified Cost Professional (CCP) and Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP).
What education do you need to become a compensation manager?
What degree do you need to be a compensation manager?
- Bachelor's, 71%
- Master's, 20%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a compensation manager?
- Business, 32%
- Psychology, 9%
- Accounting, 7%
- Other Majors, 38%
Most common colleges for compensation managers
| Compensation manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 10.56% |
| Ohio State University | 6.21% |
| Texas A&M University | 6.21% |
| Cornell University | 6.21% |
| University of Cincinnati | 5.59% |
Best majors for compensation managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 32.3% |
| 2 | Human Resources Management | 13.6% |
| 3 | Psychology | 9.1% |
| 4 | Accounting | 7.3% |
| 5 | Finance | 5.3% |
Best colleges for compensation managers
The best colleges for compensation managers are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Boston University.
A compensation manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for compensation managers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become compensation managers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
4. SUNY College at Oswego
Oswego, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,440
Enrollment
7,039
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. Baylor University
Waco, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$45,542
Enrollment
14,159
7. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
8. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
9. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
10. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
20 best online courses for compensation managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Managing Employee Compensation
Whether you're writing paychecks or wondering where yours comes from, this course is for you! We begin by asking: "To succeed, what kind of a person does your organization need to attract, retain, and motivate?" From there, we'll explain how to align your organization's objectives, its pay philosophy, and ultimately the way it designs and implements its salary structure, short-term incentives, long-term incentives, and benefits. Interested in learning more about the technical aspects of...
2. Sales Operations/Management
Sales jobs span nearly every industry, from agribusiness and pharmaceuticals, to telecommunications and property management. And essential to sales is the management of the sales force. This course provides the knowledge and know how required for careers in sales management. Students are exposed to all facets of sales management, including organizing, selecting, training, motivating, supervising and compensating the sales force, territory management and administration and sales and expense...
3. Performance Management and Compensation Management in HRM
Performance Management and Compensation Management Complete Course...
4. Compensation and Benefits for Beginners
This course is a beginners guide to understanding compensation and benefits...
5. Marketing Channel Incentives
This specialization is ideal for individuals who currently work in or are targeting opportunities in consulting and strategy, industrial sales and buying, marketing management, entrepreneurship and business development. In this course, you will be exposed to the challenges of implementing a pricing strategy in your route-to-market and the necessity of becoming a "strategic skeptic." Questions such as, "how to ensure our partners do the right activity at the right price?" "how should my firm...
6. Marketing Channel Functions
This course is ideal for individuals who currently work in or are targeting opportunities in consulting and strategy, industrial sales and buying, marketing management, entrepreneurship and business development. This course will cover the concept of channel functions, or the supply side of designing routes to markets. Channel functions are the necessary activities that channel members must provide in order to create the channel benefits that customers desire. You will learn a framework that...
7. Ultimate Payroll Management with Income Tax & Year-End 23-24
Basic to Advanced: Certification in Payroll, Compensation Benefits, Income Tax,Year Ending for Payroll & Human Resources...
8. Master Course in Human Resources 2.0
Strategic human resource management, strategic planning, recruiting, training, HR management,Labour welfare...
9. Accounting Analysis II: Accounting for Liabilities and Equity
This course is the fourth course in a five-course Financial Reporting Specialization. This course focuses on the recognition, measurement, and subsequent accounting for equity, pensions, share-based compensation, and cash flows utilizing the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and other resources...
10. Management Consulting Essential Training
Everything you need to know about the techniques of world's top management consulting firms to land 6-figure job offer...
11. Cloud Computing Sales
The Hottest Tech Market: Close more and better deals by understanding clients' business objectives + technology roadmap...
12. Ultimate HR Generalist and Human Resource Management Course
Hands-on HR Certification: All HRM topics. Master Employee Life Cycle, Payroll, Recruitment, Engagement, EXDesign and AI...
13. Salary Negotiation: How to Negotiate a New Job Offer (Pro)
Earn thousands by finding what you're worth, knowing exactly what to say, and negotiating your pay with confidence...
14. Certification Course in Human Resource Management
Curriculum commensurate to Top B School's Management Program : with downloadable resources, quiz, assessments & exercise...
15. Management Coaching Employee Performance Coach Certification
Set expectations, assess performance, provide feedback, increase productivity, develop employee potential...
16. Diploma Course in Human Resource Management (HRM)
Become top-notch HRM Practitioner - Get Live Projects, Ready-to-use Templates, Demos, Quizzes, Articles, Case studies...
17. Business Fundamentals: Management and HR Management
Management and HR Management Fundamentals: Become a more effective leader and supercharge your business for success...
18. Program Management Interview Course
Learn how to interview for program manager roles at tech companies...
19. How to Succeed In Your First Management Job
The management skills you can build to become a better manager and a great boss...
20. Program Management Course - Program Manager Essentials
In this Program Management course you will learn the essentials and more to become an effective Program Manager...
Top 10 most affordable universities for compensation managers
The most affordable schools for compensation managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - dominguez hills.
If the best universities for compensation managers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for compensation managers.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
7. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
8. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
10. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$4,831
Cost of attendance
19,559
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for compensation managers
The hardest universities for compensation managers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Boston University.
Some great schools for compensation managers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for compensation managers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
10. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for compensation managers
The easiest schools for compensation managers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and gwynedd mercy university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a compensation manager without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for compensation managers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
4. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
8. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
9. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
10. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
Average compensation manager salary by education level
| Compensation manager education level | Compensation manager salary |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $115,967 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $98,702 |
Compensation manager education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025