Career Trends: Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists

Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists conduct an organization’s compensation and benefits programs. They also evaluate position descriptions to determine details such as a person’s classification and salary.

Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists work in nearly every industry. They typically work in offices, and most work full time during regular business hours.

Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree, and some specialists need related work experience.

Employment of compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2014 to 2024, slower than the average for all occupations. Outsourcing compensation and benefits plans to consulting firms will limit employment growth in most industries. Job prospects should be best for those with previous human resources work experience.

This occupation supported 91,700 jobs in 2012 and 84,700 jobs in 2014, reflecting a decline of 7.6%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 5.8% in 2022 to 97,000 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 92,700, compared with an observed value of 84,700, 8.6% lower than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 3.7% in 2024 to 88,100 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 98,000 jobs for 2024, 11.2% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.