Occupation Details
Compensation and Benefits Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
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Interests
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$120,820.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$172,600.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$228,820.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
1,440
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
1,660
+22 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
135
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Degree Needed - Four-year college
Experience Requirements
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- 10-key calculators
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Liquid crystal display LCD video projectors
- Notebook computers
- Optical disk drives
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Photocopying equipment
- Scanners
- Tablet computers
Technology
- ASL HR Director
- AdRelevance
- Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Apex Business Software iHR
- Apple iMovie
- Asure Software HCM
- Atlas Business Solutions Staff Files
- Blue Chip Computer Consultants HumaNET
- Brainworks
- Business analysis software
- Datamatics V-Core HR
- Deltek Costpoint
- DenoSys HRiStragegy
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- answer customer or public inquiries
- develop wage systems for workers
- implement employee bargaining agreements
- implement employee compensation plans
- implement employee benefit plans
- direct and coordinate human resource programs
- fill out insurance forms
- develop records management system
- prepare reports for management
- write employee orientation or training materials
- evaluate personnel benefits policies
- oversee execution of organizational or program policies
- confer with other departmental heads to coordinate activities
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- develop budgets
- manage contracts
- monitor operational budget
- develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
- present information on human resource management issues
- resolve worker or management conflicts
- execute employee bargaining agreements
- negotiate labor agreements
- resolve personnel problems or grievances
- assign work to staff or employees
- orient new employees
- recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
- advise management or labor union officials on labor relation issues
- advise department managers in personnel matters
- compile numerical or statistical data
- categorize occupational, educational, or employment information
- compile information on findings from investigation of accidents
- use government regulations
- use interviewing procedures
- maintain awareness of social trends
- use conflict resolution techniques
- use knowledge of employee classification system
- analyze data to identify personnel problems
- analyze budgets
- conduct research on work-related topics
- forecast departmental personnel requirements
- conduct or attend staff meetings
- obtain information from individuals
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Design, evaluate, and modify benefits policies to ensure that programs are current, competitive, and in compliance with legal requirements.
- Advise management on such matters as equal employment opportunity, sexual harassment, and discrimination.
- Analyze compensation policies, government regulations, and prevailing wage rates to develop competitive compensation plan.
- Administer, direct, and review employee benefit programs, including the integration of benefit programs following mergers and acquisitions.
- Fulfill all reporting requirements of all relevant government rules and regulations, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
- Negotiate bargaining agreements.
- Formulate policies, procedures and programs for recruitment, testing, placement, classification, orientation, benefits and compensation, and labor and industrial relations.
- Direct preparation and distribution of written and verbal information to inform employees of benefits, compensation, and personnel policies.
- Manage the design and development of tools to assist employees in benefits selection, and to guide managers through compensation decisions.
- Prepare detailed job descriptions and classification systems and define job levels and families, in partnership with other managers.
- Study legislation, arbitration decisions, and collective bargaining contracts to assess industry trends.
- Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
- Identify and implement benefits to increase the quality of life for employees by working with brokers and researching benefits issues.
- Investigate and report on industrial accidents for insurance carriers.
- Conduct exit interviews to identify reasons for employee termination.
- Prepare personnel forecasts to project employment needs.
- Maintain records and compile statistical reports concerning personnel-related data, such as hires, transfers, performance appraisals, and absenteeism rates.
- Analyze statistical data and reports to identify and determine causes of personnel problems, and develop recommendations for improvement of organization's personnel policies and practices.
- Plan and conduct new-employee orientations to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives.
- Mediate between benefits providers and employees, such as by assisting in handling employees' benefits-related questions or taking suggestions.
- Prepare budgets for personnel operations.
- Develop methods to improve employment policies, processes, and practices, and recommend changes to management.
- Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
- Contract with vendors to provide employee services, such as food services, transportation, or relocation service.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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