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The differences between payroll managers and benefits managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a payroll manager, becoming a benefits manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a payroll manager has an average salary of $86,147, which is higher than the $64,064 average annual salary of a benefits manager.
The top three skills for a payroll manager include customer service, human resources and payroll system. The most important skills for a benefits manager are HR, customer service, and HRIS.
| Payroll Manager | Benefits Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $86,147 | $64,064 |
| Hourly rate | $41.42 | $30.80 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 6,972 | 11,164 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A payroll manager is responsible for monitoring the payment process of all employees. Payroll managers oversee payroll records, reviewing calculable taxes and other deductions, creating a comprehensive summary of payroll details, managing payroll discrepancies, and releasing payroll checks through the organization's payment method. They must also follow strict procedures on legal requirements and tax obligations. A payroll manager must have excellent analytical and communication skills, especially on responding to the employees' inquiries and concerns, as well as managing the performance of the payroll staff.
A benefits manager is primarily in charge of overseeing and handling a company's benefits programs and projects for employees. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with human resources to gather accurate data, improve existing benefits programs, and creating new ones in adherence to the company's policies and regulations. A benefits manager may also liaise with external agencies, develop activities for employee welfare, and resolve any issues regarding the benefits programs. Furthermore, they may perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, manage budgets, and maintain records of all transactions.
Payroll managers and benefits managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Payroll Manager | Benefits Manager | |
| Average salary | $86,147 | $64,064 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $117,000 | Between $39,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
| Highest paying state | California | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Ep Energy | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a payroll manager and a benefits manager in terms of educational background:
| Payroll Manager | Benefits Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between payroll managers' and benefits managers' demographics:
| Payroll Manager | Benefits Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.0% Female, 78.0% | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 8.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 35% |