Business and Finance · Career brief

Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$78,210

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

9,000

Above the middle on opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is typically expected

Bachelor's degree + related experience. Related work experience is typically required.

5The work

Structured / detail

Accuracy, process, and organized information matter

Administer employee insurance, pension, and savings plans, working with insurance brokers and plan carriers.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is growth; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if structured, detail-oriented work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a bachelor's-degree path. Main tradeoff: BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

Before choosing, compare:Loan Officers Accountant / Auditor Management Analysts

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists with another field Explore rankings in Business and Finance Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$78,210

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

6%employment growth9,000openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

118,100

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists (13-1141).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Administer employee insurance, pension, and savings plans, working with insurance brokers and plan carriers.
Ensure company compliance with federal and state laws, including reporting requirements.
Research employee benefit and health and safety practices, and recommend changes or modifications to existing policies.
Assist in preparing and maintaining personnel records and handbooks.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.3
Getting Information4.2
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.2
Working with Computers4.2
Analyzing Data or Information4.1

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Conventional5.8
Enterprising5.4
Social3.6
Investigative3.4
Artistic1.4
Realistic1.3

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Personnel and Human Resources Mathematics Economics and Accounting Computers and Electronics

Software and tools named in job postings

Workday software Oracle HRIS

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Work through a realistic case with incomplete information: make a recommendation, show the numbers behind it, and defend the tradeoffs.
Ask someone doing this job which feeder role built the required experience, what that earlier job paid, and how long the transition actually took.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include Workday software, Oracle HRIS; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

Prior related experience: less than 5 years. Look for the preceding roles and promotion route before treating this as a first job.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options