How Much Does a Benefits Specialist Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$78,210
Benefits specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $78,210 a year, or $37.60 an hour. Half of benefits specialists earn more than $78,210 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $128,920.
Pay percentiles for benefits specialists
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23.79 | $49,480 |
| 25th | $29.28 | $60,890 |
| 50th (median) | $37.60 | $78,210 |
| 75th | $48.27 | $100,400 |
| 90th | $61.98 | $128,920 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (SOC 13-1141). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for benefits specialists
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $99,560 | $47.87 | +27% |
| Massachusetts | $95,890 | $46.10 | +23% |
| Colorado | $92,560 | $44.50 | +18% |
| California | $91,410 | $43.95 | +17% |
| District of Columbia | $86,710 | $41.69 | +11% |
| Washington | $86,630 | $41.65 | +11% |
| New Jersey | $85,040 | $40.89 | +9% |
| New Mexico | $83,540 | $40.16 | +7% |
| Oregon | $83,320 | $40.06 | +7% |
| New York | $83,200 | $40.00 | +6% |
| United States | $78,210 | $37.60 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many benefits specialists are there?
BLS counts about 112,380 benefits specialists employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists”. The most jobs are in California (13,430), New York (11,470) and Florida (6,610).
The mean (average) annual wage is $84,330, higher than the median of $78,210.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,518
- Biweekly
- $3,008
- Weekly
- $1,504
- Daily (8 hours)
- $301
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do benefits specialists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for benefits specialists is $37.60. The middle 50% earn between $29.28 and $48.27 an hour.
Which state pays benefits specialists the most?
Delaware has the highest median wage for benefits specialists at $99,560, +27% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for benefits specialists?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of benefits specialists earn less than $49,480 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.