Compensation and benefits managers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Compensation and benefits managers in the United States earn a median salary of $149,230 per year — about $72 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 21K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of 0%.
AI & Automation Risk
This occupation is primarily digital and data-driven, involving the analysis of wage trends, benefits structures, and regulatory compliance—tasks where AI excels. While the role requires high-level human judgment for vendor negotiations and strategic decision-making, AI can automate significant portions of the data analysis, reporting, and routine employee communication, leading to higher productivity and potential workforce consolidation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, ARBEST VALUE | $221,800 | Below avg (91.4) | $242,794 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $218,860 | Above avg (106.9) | $204,802 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $216,580 | Above avg (111.1) | $194,884 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $215,180 | Above avg (110.4) | $194,869 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $186,700 | Above avg (103.2) | $180,946 |
| Cleveland, OH | $163,500 | Below avg (93.9) | $174,079 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $167,450 | Average (97.3) | $172,012 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $185,590 | Above avg (108.3) | $171,420 |
| Birmingham, AL | $156,710 | Below avg (91.6) | $170,999 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $166,100 | Average (100.1) | $166,004 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $150,850 | Below avg (91.7) | $164,502 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $188,850 | Above avg (115.6) | $163,347 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $162,490 | Average (100.3) | $162,007 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $162,720 | Average (100.9) | $161,301 |
| Richmond, VA | $157,370 | Average (97.9) | $160,815 |