If you want to become a compensation and benefits coordinator, you first need to determine if this career path is a good fit for you. If the following description sounds like you, then you might be a good fit:
Those who enter this line of work are typically individuals who have excellent organizational, inter-personal and communication skills. They are responsible and trustworthy individuals who are able to keep employee and other sensitive information confidential.
Those who become compensation and benefits coordinators have a natural interest in employee relations compiling, interpreting and providing information about payroll matters, benefit plans and collective agreement provisions. They are often interested in a career that is challenging, rewarding, and that offers plenty of room for growth and development.
Below we've outlined what you'll need to begin a career in this field. We've also included helpful information for this career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!
Education Needed to Become a Compensation and Benefits Coordinator
Most employers will require that you have an associate’s degree, diploma or bachelor’s degree in a field such as human resources, accounting, business administration, industrial relations, commerce or psychology.
Those with more advanced education in these areas may qualify for positions of greater responsibility, or higher compensation. They might however, also find that they are ‘over qualified’ for some positions, as employers may not be willing to provide them with a salary commensurate with their level education.
What is a Compensation and Benefits Coordinator?
Compensation and benefits coordinators are employees of an organization’s Human Resources (HR) department that assist benefits specialists and other human resources personnel with administering employee compensation and benefits programs.
Typical Job Description
Although the responsibilities of compensation and benefits coordinators can vary based on a variety of factors, their job generally consists of executing the plans surrounding employee compensation and benefits packages. They must perform all transactional and operational tasks surrounding the management of compensation and benefits packages.
In the day-to-day operation of their job, compensation and benefits coordinators are often the first contact for employees with questions or issues regarding compensation and benefits.
Benefits coordinators may also be responsible for assisting with such human resources functions as preparing and conducting employee benefit orientation, managing benefit enrollment, status changes and terminations, and setting up employee benefits files in compliance with company and governmental regulations.
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
• Compute withholding taxes and salary deductions
• Answer employee questions and respond to concerns with regards to compensation and benefits
• Prepare payment reports and deduction summaries
• Issue employee cheques
• Inform employees regarding the details of their benefits packages, such as dental, health spending allowance, medical and other benefits
• Inform employees regarding the proper use and availability of their benefits
• Stay abreast of changes to employee legislation
• Keep accurate and thorough records
• Liaise with insurance providers regarding benefits sales and administration
• Liaise with departmental managers concerning employee wage and salary increases
Who Employs Compensation and Benefits Coordinators?
Compensation and benefits coordinators are hired as members of the human resources team by organizations of all types and sizes, in both the private and the public sector. Companies that provide contracted payroll and benefits services to organizations that do not have payroll departments may also hire them.
Skills Needed to Be Successful
You'll need to posses a certain set of skills and personality traits in order to perform your duties with competence and effectiveness. Such skills and traits include:
• A careful and accurate approach when working with details
• Must be trustworthy, responsible and organized
• Effective problem solving and decision making skills
• Able to work independently and with others in a team environment
• Able to work well under pressure and consistently meet deadlines
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Able to keep personal information about employees confidential
• Able to approach sensitive employee issues with tact
• Willing and able to keep up to date with evolving technology
Career Advancement Possibilities
A career as a compensation and benefits coordinator is one that is challenging and rewarding, with much room for professional growth. With enough experience, compensation and benefits coordinators take on roles of increasing responsibility, such as payroll manager, or human resources manager. With even more experience and further education, these professionals can move into executive management of the organization.
Work Conditions Typical to This Career
Compensation and benefits coordinators typically work with other members of the human resources department of their employer. Their work typically takes place in an office environment, during normal weekday working hours. They often interact with human resources colleagues, as well as other employees of the organization via e-mail, telephone and in person.
Job Postings - Current Opportunities
Our job board below has "Compensation & Benefits Coordinator" ("Human Resources Coordinator" being the most effective search term to use) postings in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Average Salary Level in the Field
The salary level of compensation and benefits coordinators can vary, depending on the qualifications of the individual, as well as the specific responsibilities of the job. Although there isn’t reliable salary data available specifically for the career Compensation and Benefits Coordinator, we can get a good idea of what they earn by looking at the salary level of workers in similar occupations.
Compensation and Benefits Coordinator Salary - Canada (Alberta): According to the 2018 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans working in the Human Resources Professional occupational group earn an average salary of $68,758 per year. Unfortunately, no similar statistics were available for the rest of Canada at the time of writing (May 29, 2019)
Compensation and Benefits Coordinator Salary United States: According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary of workers in the Human Resources Specialists occupational group is $60,660 per year.
Similar Occupational Profiles in Our Database
Listed below are careers in our database that are similar in nature to compensation and benefits coordinator, as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
References
Please consult the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career as a compensation and benefits coordinator.
Occupations in Alberta: “Human Resources Professional.” (April 1, 2017). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
Occupational Employment and Wages: “Human Resources Specialists.” (March 29, 2019). Occupational Outlook Handbook - United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
Blog: “Benefits Coordinator Career and Salary Profile.” (n.d.). Florida Tech Online website. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
Scholarships for Becoming a Compensation and Benefits Coordinator
The 'Relevant Fields of Study' section below lists areas of academic focus that pertain to this career. Scholarships matched to those fields of study can be found on our All Scholarships by Major page.
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Relevant Fields of Study
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point for this profession. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
