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The differences between senior compensation analysts 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 a senior compensation analyst and a benefit specialist. Additionally, a senior compensation analyst has an average salary of $85,796, which is higher than the $48,756 average annual salary of a benefit specialist.
The top three skills for a senior compensation analyst include compensation programs, human resources and HRIS. The most important skills for a benefit specialist are customer service, HR, and patients.
| Senior Compensation Analyst | Benefit Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $85,796 | $48,756 |
| Hourly rate | $41.25 | $23.44 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 17,361 | 31,663 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A senior compensation analyst is primarily in charge of developing and maintaining compensation programs for a company's employees. Their responsibilities revolve around performing extensive research and analysis to identify employee needs, understanding the extent of every workforce position, conducting surveys, improving existing programs, and learning the compensation programs of competitors. Furthermore, as a senior compensation analyst, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals and serve as a mentor to junior analysts, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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.
Senior compensation analysts and benefit specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Compensation Analyst | Benefit Specialist | |
| Average salary | $85,796 | $48,756 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $116,000 | Between $34,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Wedbush Securities | Qorvo |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior compensation analyst and a benefit specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Compensation Analyst | Benefit Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior compensation analysts' and benefit specialists' demographics:
| Senior Compensation Analyst | Benefit Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.8% Female, 65.2% | Male, 21.1% Female, 78.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 Percentage | 9% | 9% |