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The differences between compensation specialists and benefits assistants 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 specialist and a benefits assistant. Additionally, a compensation specialist has an average salary of $67,722, which is higher than the $39,850 average annual salary of a benefits assistant.
The top three skills for a compensation specialist include human resources, compensation programs and customer service. The most important skills for a benefits assistant are human resources, data entry, and cobra.
| Compensation Specialist | Benefits Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $67,722 | $39,850 |
| Hourly rate | $32.56 | $19.16 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 32,642 | 25,337 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A compensation specialist is responsible for evaluating the organization's benefits package for the employees, following the state regulations and legislation procedures. Compensation specialists identify the staff needs and develop opportunities that would maximize productivity and increase efficiency. They also analyze the market performance to adjust compensation rates according to roles as needed with the coordination of the finance department. A compensation specialist facilitates orientations for new programs and informs the employees about any changes in the payment system.
Typically working in a human resources department, a benefits assistant is in charge of performing clerical support tasks for an efficient workflow. They primarily communicate with employees to answer inquiries regarding benefits and compensation programs, assist in processing documents, and resolve issues and concerns. Their responsibilities also include conducting research and analysis, liaising with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, organizing documents, and maintaining records. Above all, it is essential to carry out duties while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Compensation specialists and benefits assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Compensation Specialist | Benefits Assistant | |
| Average salary | $67,722 | $39,850 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $110,000 | Between $31,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Irving Isd |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a compensation specialist and a benefits assistant in terms of educational background:
| Compensation Specialist | Benefits Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between compensation specialists' and benefits assistants' demographics:
| Compensation Specialist | Benefits Assistant | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7% | Male, 15.7% Female, 84.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.4% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.9% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |