Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists focus on evaluating how employees are paid, what benefits they receive, and how jobs are structured and classified. Nationally, this occupation employs about 107,000 people and offers a median annual salary of $77,020, reflecting solid earning potential for those entering or growing in the field. Projected employment growth of 5.3% and 8,000 annual openings indicate ongoing demand for these specialists over time. The role draws on strong analytical, mathematical, and communication abilities, as well as comfort with computers and information technology. It also values detail orientation, problem solving, interpersonal strengths, and project management. A bachelor’s degree is the typical education requirement, making this a professional path that is accessible to college graduates interested in combining quantitative analysis with people-focused work in areas such as pay, benefits, and job structures. Overall, the field offers a balanced blend of stability, growth, and advancement potential across multiple regions of the country.
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists earn a national median annual salary of $77,020, providing a solid overall earnings baseline. However, salary levels vary meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, median pay ranges from $83,200 in New York to $95,890 in Massachusetts, with California, Colorado, and Washington also above the national median. At the metro level, salary differences are even more pronounced. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area reports a median salary of $133,700, the highest among the listed metros. Other metros such as San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA; Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH; Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV; and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ also offer median salaries above the national median. These variations suggest that geographic choices can significantly influence earning potential for professionals in this occupation.
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists have a national employment level of about 107,000, indicating a sizable professional workforce. Projected employment growth is 5.3%, pointing to continued expansion rather than contraction over the forecast period. In addition, the occupation is expected to generate about 8,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect both new positions from growth and positions that need to be filled as people change jobs or leave the workforce. Taken together, the current employment base, the 5.3% growth rate, and the steady volume of openings highlight a career path with ongoing hiring activity nationwide. For students, early-career professionals, or career changers, these numbers suggest that opportunities are available both for entry into the field and for movement between employers and regions over time.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York all combine relatively high employment with strong CareerGPS opportunity scores above 65. California stands out with 13,430 employed specialists, a median salary of $91,410, and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts has a higher median salary of $95,890 and an opportunity score of 65.87, while New York offers a median salary of $83,200 and an opportunity score of 65.78. Colorado and Washington also show solid opportunity scores above 56, with median salaries above the national median. At the metro level, opportunity becomes even more concentrated. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA leads with the highest opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $133,700. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro follows closely with an opportunity score of 77.27. Other strong metros include San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA; Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV; and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH, all offering high salaries and notable opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the broad mix of quantitative, analytical, and communication skills needed in the field. Strong mathematics skills and critical and analytical thinking provide the foundation for working with data and structured information. Speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills are important for clear communication and documentation. Success in this career also depends on being detail oriented and comfortable with computers and information technology, since much of the work involves precise information handling. Problem solving and decision making support sound judgments, while interpersonal abilities help in working with colleagues and stakeholders. Project management skills and adaptability contribute to handling multiple tasks and changing priorities. Together, a bachelor’s degree and this skill set prepare professionals to perform effectively in compensation, benefits, and job analysis roles across a variety of organizations and locations.
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