Compensation Manager Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Compensation and Benefits Managers
The median compensation manager salary in the United States is $149,230 per year ($71.75/hour). Salaries range from $89,160 at the entry level to $256,570+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 22,940 compensation manager jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 0.2% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$149,230
per year
Hourly Rate
$71.75
per hour
Employment
22,940
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$89,160
25th percentile
$113,170
Median
$149,230
75th percentile
$200,610
90th percentile
$256,570
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+0.2%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
+ 5 years or more experience
Compensation Manager Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$89K$199K■ No data
Top Paying States
Washington
$199K
+33%
Connecticut
$198K
+33%
Massachusetts
$184K
+23%
New York
$176K
+18%
New Jersey
$168K
+13%
California
$167K
+12%
Delaware
$166K
+11%
Colorado
$166K
+11%
Minnesota
$163K
+9%
Georgia
$163K
+9%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $199,190 | +33.5% |
| Connecticut | $197,970 | +32.7% |
| Massachusetts | $184,070 | +23.3% |
| New York | $175,620 | +17.7% |
| New Jersey | $168,370 | +12.8% |
| California | $166,730 | +11.7% |
| Delaware | $166,070 | +11.3% |
| Colorado | $165,770 | +11.1% |
| Minnesota | $163,390 | +9.5% |
| Georgia | $163,060 | +9.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 45
Compensation Manager Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $221,800 | +48.6% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $218,860 | +46.7% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $216,580 | +45.1% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $215,180 | +44.2% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $188,850 | +26.5% |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $186,700 | +25.1% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $185,590 | +24.4% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $179,730 | +20.4% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $171,950 | +15.2% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $168,850 | +13.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 91
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A compensation manager earning $149,230/year would need 399 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 429 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how compensation manager salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Compensation Manager salary trend (2011–2024) →