$Who Earns What

How much does a benefits analyst make?

US Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists

Answer: A typical benefits analyst in the United States makes $78,210 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US
$78,210

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 112,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner
$49,480
10th from the bottom of 100
Typical person
$78,210
Right in the middle (median)
Higher earner
$128,920
10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

48 of 100
not many

Benefits analyst pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Benefits analyst pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$49,480$78,210$128,920about 112,000
States where benefits analysts earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Massachusetts$95,890about 3,000
Colorado$92,560about 2,000
California$91,410about 13,000
District of Columbia$86,710about 650
Washington$86,630about 3,000

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, location, and the employer’s industry; BLS wage data vary by industry and area. Specialists may focus on pay, benefits, or job analysis, and some employers prefer professional certification, though it is not required.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US
Whole US$78,210
Massachusetts$95,890
Colorado$92,560
California$91,410
District of Columbia$86,710
Washington$86,630
Louisiana$62,700
Alabama$57,710
West Virginia$48,080

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a benefits analyst do?

Conduct programs of compensation and benefits and job analysis for employer. May specialize in specific areas, such as position classification and pension programs.

What's a typical day like?

A benefits analyst might compare spreadsheets and plan costs, check that insurance and retirement plans follow the rules, and write recommendations for HR managers. They may also answer workers’ questions and guide them through annual benefit choices.

How to get this job

In the U.S., most people earn a bachelor’s degree, often in business, social science, psychology, or communications, and study HR, finance, or accounting. They then build related experience through an internship or HR/benefits job; professional certification is optional.

Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)

Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling.

Did you know?

In the U.S., employees may even choose pet insurance during benefits enrollment—and for January plans, many companies hold this choice period in November.

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Sources and data

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY