Compensation and Benefits Manager Salary
Compensation and Benefits Managers earn a median $149,230 a year nationally. Management Occupations
U.S. median
$149,230
$71.75 per hour
Range
$89,160 – $239,200+
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
22,940
across the U.S.
Compensation and Benefits Manager take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$113,265
per year · effective tax rate 24.1%
$9,439Monthly
$4,719Twice a month
$4,356Every 2 weeks
$54.45Hourly
- Federal income tax$24,549
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,252
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,164
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$113,265
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,160 | $42.87 | $71,554 |
| 25th percentile | $113,170 | $54.41 | $88,445 |
| Median (50th) | $149,230 | $71.75 | $113,265 |
| 75th percentile | $200,610 | $96.45 | $149,376 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $256,570+ | $123.35 | $187,495 |
Best cities for compensation and benefits managers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $185,590 | $129,125 | $119,266 | 590 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $166,100 | $116,798 | $116,730 | 760 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $148,870 | $113,019 | $114,590 | 480 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $179,730 | $124,548 | $110,647 | 2,420 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $188,850 | $124,826 | $107,969 | 590 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $145,930 | $111,009 | $107,682 | 790 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $171,950 | $117,147 | $107,588 | 590 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $155,340 | $109,896 | $106,083 | 610 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $130,010 | $97,086 | $93,970 | 440 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $155,380 | $105,228 | $92,658 | 1,030 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $188,850
- Boston, MA — $185,590
- New York, NY — $179,730
- Washington, DC — $171,950
- Atlanta, GA — $166,100
- Los Angeles, CA — $155,380
- Chicago, IL — $155,340
- Houston, TX — $148,870
- Dallas, TX — $145,930
- Phoenix, AZ — $130,010
Compensation and Benefits Manager salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $199,190 | $148,323 | $116,830 – $239,200+ | 460 |
| Connecticut | $197,970 | $137,685 | $98,380 – $239,200+ | 480 |
| Massachusetts | $184,070 | $128,094 | $128,390 – $239,200+ | 670 |
| New York | $175,620 | $121,981 | $114,990 – $239,200+ | 2,260 |
| New Jersey | $168,370 | $117,812 | $111,720 – $239,200+ | 950 |
| California | $166,730 | $111,782 | $105,840 – $239,200+ | 2,970 |
| Delaware | $166,070 | $115,155 | $114,950 – $239,200+ | 50 |
| Colorado | $165,770 | $117,984 | $92,990 – $227,230 | 280 |
| Minnesota | $163,390 | $112,950 | $102,690 – $231,830 | 360 |
| Georgia | $163,060 | $114,877 | $96,540 – $239,200+ | 1,010 |
| Oregon | $161,470 | $107,946 | $100,400 – $226,250 | 240 |
| District of Columbia | $160,990 | $110,587 | $114,410 – $239,200+ | 130 |
| Virginia | $153,660 | $108,271 | $110,070 – $239,200+ | — |
| Illinois | $151,730 | $107,608 | $78,420 – $235,730 | 780 |
| Michigan | $151,620 | $108,705 | $95,800 – $239,200+ | 580 |
| Rhode Island | $149,340 | $107,848 | $93,230 – $239,200+ | 50 |
| Ohio | $141,920 | $105,148 | $84,580 – $227,440 | 460 |
| Maryland | $139,860 | $100,477 | $91,730 – $239,200+ | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $139,040 | $102,031 | $92,140 – $225,670 | 770 |
| New Hampshire | $136,950 | $104,871 | $90,830 – $200,200 | 100 |
| Texas | $136,930 | $104,858 | $86,550 – $216,890 | 2,230 |
| North Carolina | $135,240 | $98,815 | $63,740 – $227,410 | 880 |
| Tennessee | $132,780 | $102,021 | $83,010 – $239,200+ | 670 |
| Utah | $132,620 | $96,910 | $80,990 – $213,870 | 200 |
| Arizona | $129,890 | $97,007 | $80,390 – $210,860 | 510 |
| Maine | $129,690 | $92,132 | $86,600 – $198,930 | 50 |
| Florida | $127,960 | $98,727 | $79,310 – $206,170 | 1,670 |
| Wisconsin | $127,920 | $93,300 | $86,490 – $214,250 | — |
| New Mexico | $124,390 | $91,522 | $74,040 – $239,200+ | 40 |
| Alaska | $122,490 | $94,988 | $69,150 – $154,560 | 30 |
| Nebraska | $121,630 | $89,742 | $83,200 – $183,490 | 140 |
| Alabama | $118,470 | $86,515 | $84,090 – $205,840 | 90 |
| Iowa | $118,250 | $88,177 | $77,000 – $202,600 | 120 |
| Indiana | $118,180 | $88,513 | $80,620 – $189,560 | 170 |
| Nevada | $115,180 | $89,859 | $62,480 – $202,180 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $114,290 | $85,350 | $80,850 – $194,170 | 110 |
| Kansas | $114,070 | $83,513 | $82,890 – $173,240 | 70 |
| Hawaii | $110,120 | $79,460 | $76,670 – $171,110 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $107,760 | $80,335 | $74,880 – $197,020 | 180 |
| Missouri | $106,490 | $79,678 | $81,110 – $204,140 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $100,810 | $76,031 | $63,120 – $239,200+ | 140 |
| Louisiana | $99,840 | $76,458 | $71,620 – $239,200+ | 220 |
| South Carolina | $99,630 | $74,099 | $61,100 – $211,660 | 330 |
| Idaho | $90,020 | $68,496 | $83,710 – $199,990 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $89,250 | $68,779 | $59,030 – $149,990 | 70 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a compensation and benefits manager make?
The national median salary for compensation and benefits managers is $149,230 a year ($71.75 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $89,160 and the top 10% earn over $239,200+. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays compensation and benefits managers the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $199,190. After taxes and local prices, Boston, MA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many compensation and benefits managers are there in the U.S.?
About 22,940 people work as compensation and benefits managers nationwide.