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Compensation manager salary
Average compensation manager salary
$100,119
Compensation Manager Salary Overview
The role of a compensation manager is pivotal in shaping an organization’s pay structure and employee satisfaction. As of October 2025, the average salary for a compensation manager stands at $100,119 per year, or approximately $48 per hour. This figure varies significantly based on location, industry, and individual experience.
Factors Influencing Salary
Compensation managers can earn more depending on their state of employment, with the highest-paying states offering salaries well above the national average. Industries such as finance and tech typically provide higher compensation due to the complex nature of their pay structures. Additionally, years of experience can elevate a compensation manager’s earning potential, with seasoned professionals often commanding higher salaries.
Opportunities for Career Advancement
For those considering a career as a compensation manager, various educational paths can enhance job prospects, including degrees in human resources, business administration, or finance. Continuous professional development and certifications can lead to better roles and increased pay. Explore job listings that align with your qualifications and begin your journey in this rewarding field.
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Where can a Compensation Manager earn more?
Compensation manager salary estimates from across the web
Average compensation manager salary by state
The average compensation manager salary in Massachusetts, California, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average compensation manager salary states are Indiana, Oklahoma, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for compensation managers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $119,712 | $57.55 |
| 2 | Idaho | $117,287 | $56.39 |
| 3 | California | $119,466 | $57.44 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $116,659 | $56.09 |
| 5 | New York | $118,127 | $56.79 |
| 6 | Washington | $115,127 | $55.35 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $108,749 | $52.28 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $115,292 | $55.43 |
| 9 | Oregon | $111,553 | $53.63 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $116,718 | $56.11 |
| 11 | Delaware | $112,893 | $54.28 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $112,158 | $53.92 |
| 13 | Maine | $115,292 | $55.43 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $101,714 | $48.90 |
| 15 | Alaska | $114,261 | $54.93 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $106,060 | $50.99 |
| 17 | Nevada | $110,779 | $53.26 |
| 18 | Virginia | $102,932 | $49.49 |
| 19 | Michigan | $104,719 | $50.35 |
| 20 | Maryland | $102,014 | $49.05 |
| 21 | Ohio | $94,631 | $45.50 |
| 22 | Vermont | $103,636 | $49.83 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $104,682 | $50.33 |
| 24 | Missouri | $96,853 | $46.56 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $100,576 | $48.35 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $102,625 | $49.34 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $96,211 | $46.26 |
| 28 | Utah | $91,859 | $44.16 |
| 29 | Texas | $94,523 | $45.44 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $95,250 | $45.79 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $92,735 | $44.58 |
| 32 | Arizona | $92,988 | $44.71 |
| 33 | Illinois | $90,399 | $43.46 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $86,149 | $41.42 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $91,193 | $43.84 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $94,700 | $45.53 |
| 37 | Kansas | $93,313 | $44.86 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $82,035 | $39.44 |
| 39 | Colorado | $86,599 | $41.63 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $85,212 | $40.97 |
| 41 | Georgia | $86,181 | $41.43 |
| 42 | Montana | $87,289 | $41.97 |
| 43 | Florida | $78,388 | $37.69 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $84,809 | $40.77 |
| 45 | Indiana | $80,269 | $38.59 |
| 46 | Alabama | $81,838 | $39.35 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $80,087 | $38.50 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $81,789 | $39.32 |
| 49 | Iowa | $73,877 | $35.52 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $71,239 | $34.25 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $77,821 | $37.41 |
Highest paying cities for compensation managers
The highest-paying cities for compensation managers are Sacramento, CA, Carson City, NV, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $129,284 | $62.16 |
| 2 | Carson City, NV | $120,128 | $57.75 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $119,843 | $57.62 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $118,267 | $56.86 |
| 5 | Providence, RI | $116,739 | $56.12 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $115,701 | $55.63 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $115,592 | $55.57 |
| 8 | Dover, DE | $112,698 | $54.18 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $112,136 | $53.91 |
| 10 | Salem, OR | $111,805 | $53.75 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,122 | $52.46 |
| 12 | Hartford, CT | $106,485 | $51.19 |
| 13 | Jackson, MS | $104,212 | $50.10 |
| 14 | Lansing, MI | $104,021 | $50.01 |
| 15 | Richmond, VA | $102,862 | $49.45 |
| 16 | Bismarck, ND | $102,819 | $49.43 |
| 17 | Columbia, MD | $102,052 | $49.06 |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $97,266 | $46.76 |
| 19 | Jefferson City, MO | $96,741 | $46.51 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $96,504 | $46.40 |
Compensation manager salary details
A compensation manager's salary ranges from $71,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $139,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a compensation manager's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| 75th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| Average | $100,119 | $8,343 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $84,000 | $7,000 | $40 |
| 10th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
Highest paying compensation manager jobs
The highest paying types of compensation managers are compensation director, benefit director, and hris manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee Benefits Coordinator | $42,484 | $3,540 | $20.42 | 22,910 |
| Benefits Counselor | $72,268 | $6,022 | $34.74 | 34,132 |
| Benefit Director | $110,567 | $9,214 | $53.16 | 9,650 |
| Benefits Consultant | $79,068 | $6,589 | $38.01 | 19,308 |
| Plan Administrator | $68,435 | $5,703 | $32.90 | 51,856 |
| Hris Manager | $105,995 | $8,833 | $50.96 | 10,983 |
Top companies hiring compensation managers now:
Which companies pay compensation managers the most?
Compensation manager salaries at DLA Piper and Google are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average compensation manager salary at companies like The Walt Disney Company and RSM US are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DLA Piper | $137,850 | $66.27 |
| 2 | $128,519 | $61.79 | |
| 3 | The Walt Disney Company | $127,639 | $61.36 |
| 4 | RSM US | $125,999 | $60.58 |
| 5 | Cloudflare | $124,513 | $59.86 |
| 6 | Anaplan | $122,497 | $58.89 |
| 7 | Artisan Partners | $121,510 | $58.42 |
| 8 | Fisher Investments | $120,068 | $57.73 |
| 9 | J.P. Morgan | $120,044 | $57.71 |
| 10 | Invesco | $119,572 | $57.49 |
| 11 | Waymo | $119,427 | $57.42 |
| 12 | Commonwealth | $118,069 | $56.76 |
| 13 | Michaels Stores | $117,761 | $56.62 |
| 14 | Chime | $115,274 | $55.42 |
| 15 | Bunge | $114,730 | $55.16 |
| 16 | Citi | $114,139 | $54.87 |
| 17 | Salesforce | $113,968 | $54.79 |
| 18 | Texas Instruments | $113,018 | $54.34 |
| 19 | Belkin | $112,363 | $54.02 |
| 20 | Amazon | $112,032 | $53.86 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Compensation Manager salary by industry
The average compensation manager salary varies across industries:
- The average compensation manager salary in the technology industry is $98,035, the highest of any industry.
- The average compensation manager salary in the finance industry is $95,218.
- Compensation managers in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $75,424, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for compensation managers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $98,035 | $47.13 |
| 2 | Retail | $95,218 | $45.78 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $92,129 | $44.29 |
| 4 | Health Care | $88,200 | $42.40 |
| 5 | Professional | $87,386 | $42.01 |
| 6 | Hospitality | $75,424 | $36.26 |
High paying compensation manager jobs
Compensation manager salary trends
The average compensation manager salary has risen by $26,276 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average compensation manager earned $73,843 annually, but today, they earn $100,119 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for compensation managers over the last decade.
Compare compensation manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average compensation manager salary over time
Compare compensation manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Compensation manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $100,000 | $48.13 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $97,800 | $47.03 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $96,800 | $46.55 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $95,300 | $45.82 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $93,000 | $44.71 | +4.1% |
Recently added compensation manager salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One | Manager, Compensation | McLean, VA | 06/30/2025 | $172,800 |
| Ardent Mills | Compensation Manager | Denver, CO | 06/30/2025 | $102,600 |
| Subaru | Compensation Manager | Camden, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $114,800 |
| Metropolis | Compensation Manager | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $125,000 |
| Pepsico | Total Rewards Incentive Compensation Manager | Harrison, NY | 06/28/2025 | $106,400 |
| Techstyle | Compensation Manager | El Segundo, CA | 06/28/2025 | $89,100 |
| Fabletics | Compensation Manager | El Segundo, CA | 06/28/2025 | $89,100 |
| Honda | Compensation Manger | Marysville, OH | 06/27/2025 | $100,700 |
| Roblox | Executive and Equity Compensation Manager | San Mateo, CA | 06/27/2025 | $205,020 |
| Huntington Ingalls Industries | Compensation Manager (MGR Compensation | Fairfax, VA | 06/25/2025 | $140,650 |
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