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Employee benefits specialist salary
Average employee benefits specialist salary
$45,893
Understanding Employee Benefits Specialist Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Employee Benefits Specialist stands at $45,893 per year, equivalent to about $22 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and industry. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher compensation due to their cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Salary by State
Salary figures reveal that specialists in states like Washington and Massachusetts tend to earn more, reflecting local market conditions. Additionally, industries such as healthcare and technology frequently provide higher salaries for these roles.
Career Outlook
With a growing emphasis on employee well-being, the demand for benefits specialists is expected to rise. Pursuing certifications and specialized training can enhance job prospects and salary potential. As organizations continuously seek to attract and retain top talent, skilled specialists will play an essential role in shaping employee benefits.
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Where can an Employee Benefits Specialist earn more?
Employee benefits specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average employee benefits specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for employee benefits specialists are New Jersey, Virginia, and New York. The lowest average employee benefits specialist salary states are Wyoming, Nebraska, and Utah.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for employee benefits specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $63,642 | $30.60 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $61,198 | $29.42 |
| 3 | Virginia | $63,809 | $30.68 |
| 4 | Vermont | $57,546 | $27.67 |
| 5 | Delaware | $57,481 | $27.64 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $58,984 | $28.36 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $56,641 | $27.23 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $67,184 | $32.30 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $57,460 | $27.63 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $46,875 | $22.54 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $58,700 | $28.22 |
| 12 | Alaska | $50,114 | $24.09 |
| 13 | Maryland | $55,148 | $26.51 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $52,796 | $25.38 |
| 15 | Michigan | $48,993 | $23.55 |
| 16 | Iowa | $44,166 | $21.23 |
| 17 | Nevada | $45,629 | $21.94 |
| 18 | Oregon | $45,257 | $21.76 |
| 19 | Illinois | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| 20 | Ohio | $46,391 | $22.30 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $49,542 | $23.82 |
| 22 | Georgia | $44,534 | $21.41 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $43,632 | $20.98 |
| 24 | Florida | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| 25 | Maine | $47,614 | $22.89 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $41,837 | $20.11 |
| 27 | California | $51,058 | $24.55 |
| 28 | Washington | $47,456 | $22.82 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $41,093 | $19.76 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $40,827 | $19.63 |
| 31 | Texas | $42,067 | $20.22 |
| 32 | Idaho | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| 33 | Colorado | $44,442 | $21.37 |
| 34 | Missouri | $42,013 | $20.20 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $42,755 | $20.56 |
| 36 | Arizona | $40,423 | $19.43 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $36,276 | $17.44 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $39,997 | $19.23 |
| 39 | Kansas | $40,821 | $19.63 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $39,745 | $19.11 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $35,703 | $17.16 |
| 42 | Alabama | $39,675 | $19.07 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $31,541 | $15.16 |
| 44 | Indiana | $38,826 | $18.67 |
| 45 | Montana | $26,753 | $12.86 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $37,386 | $17.97 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $39,103 | $18.80 |
| 48 | Utah | $33,600 | $16.15 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $36,522 | $17.56 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $36,947 | $17.76 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $30,574 | $14.70 |
Highest paying cities for employee benefits specialists
The highest-paying cities for employee benefits specialists are Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, New York, NY, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $66,861 | $32.14 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $64,150 | $30.84 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $61,186 | $29.42 |
| 4 | Norwood, MA | $57,729 | $27.75 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $55,528 | $26.70 |
| 6 | State College, PA | $55,471 | $26.67 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $53,676 | $25.81 |
| 8 | Washington, MI | $49,718 | $23.90 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $48,723 | $23.42 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $48,203 | $23.17 |
| 11 | Tacoma, WA | $47,836 | $23.00 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $47,297 | $22.74 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,403 | $21.83 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $44,739 | $21.51 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $44,392 | $21.34 |
| 16 | Boca Raton, FL | $43,977 | $21.14 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $42,718 | $20.54 |
| 18 | Houston, TX | $42,595 | $20.48 |
| 19 | Birmingham, AL | $39,467 | $18.97 |
| 20 | Bloomington, IN | $38,236 | $18.38 |
Employee benefits specialist salary details
An employee benefits specialist's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an employee benefits specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $45,893 | $3,824 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying employee benefits specialist jobs
The highest paying types of employee benefits specialists are senior compensation analyst, benefits consultant, and benefits advisor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers Compensation Coordinator | $61,323 | $5,110 | $29.48 | 22,910 |
| Compensation Analyst | $66,487 | $5,541 | $31.96 | 19,344 |
| Benefits & Payroll Administrator | $50,662 | $4,222 | $24.36 | 61,356 |
| Benefits Manager | $64,064 | $5,339 | $30.80 | 11,164 |
| Payroll And Benefits Coordinator | $45,858 | $3,821 | $22.05 | 29,242 |
| Benefits Consultant | $79,068 | $6,589 | $38.01 | 19,308 |
Top companies hiring employee benefits specialists now:
Which companies pay employee benefits specialists the most?
Employee benefits specialist salaries at RSM US and Deloitte are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average employee benefits specialist salary at companies like Raymond James Financial and Villa Healthcare are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RSM US | $80,906 | $38.90 |
| 2 | Deloitte | $76,867 | $36.96 |
| 3 | Raymond James Financial | $69,550 | $33.44 |
| 4 | Villa Healthcare | $68,182 | $32.78 |
| 5 | Cummins | $64,526 | $31.02 |
| 6 | Olsen Thielen and Co., Ltd. | $64,512 | $31.02 |
| 7 | Mount Nittany Medical Center | $61,953 | $29.79 |
| 8 | DLA Piper | $61,303 | $29.47 |
| 9 | Woodruff Sawyer | $58,530 | $28.14 |
| 10 | Kutak Rock | $58,206 | $27.98 |
| 11 | City of Louisville | $56,778 | $27.30 |
| 12 | Addison Group | $53,423 | $25.68 |
| 13 | Rochester City School District | $53,313 | $25.63 |
| 14 | MEDITECH | $51,788 | $24.90 |
| 15 | Transamerica Corporation | $51,208 | $24.62 |
| 16 | Amsted Rail | $51,016 | $24.53 |
| 17 | M3 Insurance | $50,753 | $24.40 |
| 18 | COMMUNITY BANCORP INC | $49,886 | $23.98 |
| 19 | Wayne Farms Enterprise | $49,793 | $23.94 |
| 20 | Alera Group | $49,793 | $23.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Employee Benefits Specialist salary by industry
The average employee benefits specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average employee benefits specialist salary in the professional industry is $49,651, the highest of any industry.
- The average employee benefits specialist salary in the finance industry is $48,715.
- Employee benefits specialists in the retail industry earn an average salary of $36,076, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for employee benefits specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $49,651 | $23.87 |
| 2 | Insurance | $48,715 | $23.42 |
| 3 | Finance | $45,083 | $21.67 |
| 4 | Utilities | $39,514 | $19.00 |
| 5 | Retail | $36,076 | $17.34 |
High paying employee benefits specialist jobs
Employee benefits specialist salary trends
The average employee benefits specialist salary has risen by $6,305 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average employee benefits specialist earned $39,588 annually, but today, they earn $45,893 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for employee benefits specialists over the last decade.
Compare employee benefits specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average employee benefits specialist salary over time
Compare employee benefits specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Employee benefits specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $45,900 | $22.06 | +3.9% |
| 2025 | $44,100 | $21.20 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $43,000 | $20.69 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $42,800 | $20.58 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $42,400 | $20.39 | +2.0% |
Recently added employee benefits specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Financial Partners Corp | Employee Benefits-Communications Specialist | Charleston, SC | 06/28/2025 | $48,000 |
| NFP | Employee Benefits-Communications Specialist | Charleston, SC | 06/28/2025 | $48,000 |
| Arizona Department of Education | Employee Benefits Specialist-Employee Benefits | Mesa, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $43,326 |
| Mesa Public Schools | Employee Benefits Specialist-Employee Benefits | Mesa, AZ | 06/26/2025 | $43,326 |
| Mesa USD 4 | Employee Benefits Specialist-Employee Benefits | Mesa, AZ | 06/25/2025 | $43,326 |
| State of Wisconsin | Employee Benefits Compliance Specialist | Madison, WI | 06/24/2025 | $67,389 |
| Brown & Brown | Employee Benefits Engagement Specialist | Manassas, VA | 06/20/2025 | $52,175 |
| University of Memphis | Employee Benefits Specialist | Memphis, TN | 06/18/2025 | $50,000 |
| The New York Foundling | Employee Benefits Specialist-Human Resources | New York, NY | 06/16/2025 | $70,000 |
| Corporate Synergies | Employee Benefits Account Specialist (Bilingual Korean) | New York, NY | 06/12/2025 | $60,000 |
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