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How to hire a retirement plan specialist

Retirement plan specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring retirement plan specialists in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a retirement plan specialist is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new retirement plan specialist to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a retirement plan specialist, step by step

To hire a retirement plan specialist, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a retirement plan specialist:

Here's a step-by-step retirement plan specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a retirement plan specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new retirement plan specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a retirement plan specialist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect retirement plan specialist also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    Here's a comparison of retirement plan specialist salaries for various roles:

    Type of Retirement Plan SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Retirement Plan SpecialistCompensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists conduct an organization’s compensation and benefits programs. They also evaluate position descriptions to determine details such as a person’s classification and salary.$19-42
    Payroll And Benefits CoordinatorA Payroll and Benefits Coordinator works as a member of a company's human resources department where their role is to oversee and organize procedures related to preparing and processing employee salaries and benefits, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. They are responsible for setting goals and guidelines, maintaining payroll records and employee timesheets, preparing and processing the necessary documentation, liaising with internal and external business partners, delegating tasks among staff, and resolving issues and concerns if any arise... Show more$16-28
    Workers Compensation CoordinatorWorkers compensation coordinators work with supervisors to identify incident causes and the best corrective actions. They train coordinators and supervisors on reporting and managing workers' compensation claims... Show more$19-43
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Life Insurance
    • Financial Products
    • FINRA
    • ERISA
    • Retirement Accounts
    • Plan Design
    • Payroll
    • Recordkeeping
    • IRS
    • Strong Analytical
    • Client Service
    • DOL
    • Minimum Distributions
    • Legislative Changes
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Generate sales leads for personal investments, annuities and plan sales.
    • Participate in establishing and testing pension plans on PeopleSoft to automate applicable calculations.
    • Call into the ADP payroll client base to cross-sell retirement products and work with payroll reps on joint sales.
    • Research and advise clients and attorneys on laws and regulations to comply with QDRO and federal guidelines.
    • Train staff on ASC software and provide office support, as needed, for issues and new training.
    • Assist in the planning, testing and conversion of the company's payroll system from GEAC to JD Edwards.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your retirement plan specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A retirement plan specialist can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, retirement plan specialists' average salary in hawaii is 59% less than in new jersey.
    • Seniority. Entry-level retirement plan specialists 53% less than senior-level retirement plan specialists.
    • Certifications. A retirement plan specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a retirement plan specialist's salary.

    Average retirement plan specialist salary

    $60,611yearly

    $29.14 hourly rate

    Entry-level retirement plan specialist salary
    $41,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025
  4. Writing a retirement plan specialist job description

    A good retirement plan specialist job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a retirement plan specialist job description:

    Retirement plan specialist job description example

    In this position within our Wealth management Operations Department, you will be responsible for assisting and supporting retirement plan participants and Retirement Professionals with various administrative and transactional requests. Responsible for ensuring compliance with Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax codes. This position works out of our Glens Falls, NY office.

    RESPONSIBILITIES :

    § Provide support to Retirement Professionals and support staff to develop team and work toward achievement of department goals, division objectives, and Company strategic plan

    § Work with Retirement Plan Distribution team on a variety of special tasks and requests as needed

    § Process a variety of transactions including; Individual Retirement Account (IRA) distributions, retirement plan distributions, retirement plan loan distributions and required minimum distributions

    § Serve as back-up to retirement plan distribution function

    § File documents manually and electronically based on established criteria

    § Keep job knowledge and skills up-to-date and ensure compliance with ERISA and IRS tax codes
    § Participate actively in Company Cross-Sell/Referral Program, make referrals as appropriate and accomplish individual and team goals.
    § Assist with problem solving and answer questions to help with problem resolution; provide consistent customer service to both internal and external customers.

    QUALIFICATIONS :

    Education/Certifications/Experience:

    § Associate’s Degree or equivalent experience required

    § 2+ years of experience preferred

    Skills/Knowledge:

    § Working knowledge of ERISA, IRS tax laws and regulations preferred
    § Proficient math skills and general knowledge of accounting procedures
    § Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks/projects to meet strict deadlines
    § Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; ability to master multiple trust accounting software products
    § Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate confidently and professionally with fellow employees, management, and other stakeholders.


    Physical Demands:

    § Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time and walk/stand for brief periods of time.
    § Must be able to repetitively use a telephone and computer mouse and keyboard.
    § Ability to lift/move up to 15 lbs.


    ABOUT OUR COMPANY

    We offer a pleasant work environment, career development opportunities, competitive compensation, and an exceptional benefits package. This position works out of our Glens Falls, NY Office.

    Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company has been serving the region and helping our neighbors achieve their financial goals since 1851. We are proud to serve as a cornerstone in the community through charitable giving and unmatched volunteerism. We serve Warren, Washington, northern Saratoga, Essex, and Clinton counties through 30 offices.

    We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard for: race, color, religion, national origin or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find retirement plan specialists for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your retirement plan specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit retirement plan specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting retirement plan specialists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new retirement plan specialist

    Once you've found the retirement plan specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new retirement plan specialist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a retirement plan specialist?

Before you start to hire retirement plan specialists, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire retirement plan specialists pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $60,611 per year for a retirement plan specialist, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for retirement plan specialists in the US typically range between $19 and $42 an hour.

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