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Employee benefits specialist vs benefit specialist

The differences between employee benefits specialists and benefit specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an employee benefits specialist and a benefit specialist. Additionally, a benefit specialist has an average salary of $48,756, which is higher than the $45,893 average annual salary of an employee benefits specialist.

The top three skills for an employee benefits specialist include RFP, health benefits and cobra. The most important skills for a benefit specialist are customer service, HR, and patients.

Employee benefits specialist vs benefit specialist overview

Employee Benefits SpecialistBenefit Specialist
Yearly salary$45,893$48,756
Hourly rate$22.06$23.44
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs18,64431,663
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does an employee benefits specialist do?

Document clerks are employees who are responsible for tracking and controlling technical documents according to the business standards of an organization. These clerks are required to scan and photocopy business-related documents such as client files, correspondence, and company records. They must work with database systems to maintain digital files while removing and destroying outdated or obsolete files. Document clerks must also verify information in company documents to ensure that the information of clients is correct and resent in all documents.

What does a benefit specialist do?

A benefits specialist is responsible for analyzing and processing the compensation package of an organization, ensuring that the salary and benefits received by an employee adhere to the current legislation procedures. Benefits specialists develop benefits programs, adjusting pension plans and insurance options as needed, and updating the employees on recent updates and changes. A benefits specialist responds to employees' inquiries, addresses their concerns, and manages benefits issues. A benefits specialist must have a clear understanding of benefits policies and processes to educate employees about the benefits structure.

Employee benefits specialist vs benefit specialist salary

Employee benefits specialists and benefit specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Employee Benefits SpecialistBenefit Specialist
Average salary$45,893$48,756
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $67,000Between $34,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityParsippany-Troy Hills, NJSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyConnecticut
Best paying companyRSM USQorvo
Best paying industryProfessionalFinance

Differences between employee benefits specialist and benefit specialist education

There are a few differences between an employee benefits specialist and a benefit specialist in terms of educational background:

Employee Benefits SpecialistBenefit Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Employee benefits specialist vs benefit specialist demographics

Here are the differences between employee benefits specialists' and benefit specialists' demographics:

Employee Benefits SpecialistBenefit Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 28.1% Female, 71.9%Male, 21.1% Female, 78.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 7.7% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between employee benefits specialist and benefit specialist duties and responsibilities

Employee benefits specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage submission process of all documents to the IRS for approval.
  • Manage newly trusteed and terminate pension plans to ensure termination complies with ERISA.
  • Manage payroll deductions, responsible for monthly insurance premium payments, and coordinate/communicate annual open enrollment.
  • Account coordinator for health, dental, fsa, hsa, supplemental coverages.
  • Process and maintain FSA, HSA, and HRA contributions, deductions, and reimbursements.
  • Create new HIPAA privacy compliance plan.
  • Show more

Benefit specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage various employee program such as life, medical, dental pension, and HSA accounts.
  • Examine HMO documents to verify eligibility to process or reject into or from a manage care plan when necessary.
  • Input daily time and PTO, manage benefits, report new hires, input sales, oversee accounts receivable.
  • Create reports using SQL database and manage reports, perform from internet-base tools for research projects need for client insight.
  • Implement new vendor for FSA administration and manage outstanding issues through continuous follow-up and vendor accountability.
  • Analyze, process and manage FMLA claims to determine eligibility and certification in compliance with state and federal regulations.
  • Show more

Employee benefits specialist vs benefit specialist skills

Common employee benefits specialist skills
  • RFP, 13%
  • Health Benefits, 10%
  • Cobra, 6%
  • Human Resources, 6%
  • HIPAA, 5%
  • HRIS, 4%
Common benefit specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • HR, 8%
  • Patients, 5%
  • HRIS, 5%
  • Life Insurance, 5%
  • Cobra, 5%

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