Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Business and Financial Operations · SOC 13-1141 · O*NET 13-1141.00
Conduct programs of compensation and benefits and job analysis for employer. May specialize in specific areas, such as position classification and pension programs.
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists fall under the Business and Financial Operations category in the U.S. occupational classification. Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists earn a median salary of $77,020 per year, ranking in the top 27% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +5.3% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists earn?
The median annual wage for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists is $77,020. That puts compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists at #222 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $48,300 |
| 25th percentile | $59,700 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $77,020 |
| 75th percentile | $99,210 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,830 |
| Median hourly wage | $37.03/hr |
Is compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists is +5.3%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 107K positions in 2024 to 112K in 2034, a net change of 5K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Research employee benefit and health and safety practices, and recommend changes or modifications to existing policies.
- 2.Plan and develop curricula and materials for training programs and conduct training.
- 3.Assist in preparing and maintaining personnel records and handbooks.
- 4.Advise managers and employees on state and federal employment regulations, collective agreements, benefit and compensation policies, personnel procedures, and classification programs.
- 5.Ensure company compliance with federal and state laws, including reporting requirements.
- 6.Administer employee insurance, pension, and savings plans, working with insurance brokers and plan carriers.
Top skills for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialist?
The standard path into compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
What is the median salary for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists?
The median annual salary for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists is $77,020 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists a growing career?
BLS projects +5.3% growth for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists?
Related occupations within the Business and Financial Operations category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.