Job Benefits and Analysis Specialists

Career summary

Many companies employ job benefits and analysis specialists to run their employee benefits programs. Their tasks may include:

• Keeping benefit costs low
• Finding efficient benefit programs
• Checking company contracts
• Following benefit program laws

Specialists often work with insurance companies and retirement plans to set up programs for their employer. They often talk with human resources managers and directors about their recommendations. In addition, specialists help analyze and negotiate agreements between employers and unions. They may also help settle disagreements between individual employees and the employer.

Specialists in employee benefits administer several kinds of plans. Some specialize in one area, while many specialists oversee several plans. Specialists may focus on employee:

• Mental health and wellness
• Pay
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement and investing plans
• Training

Specialists read the latest research in employee benefits. They make sure companies are up to date with any legal requirements and recommend ways to keep employees safe and productive.

Job benefits and analysis specialists often study how individual jobs are set up. They look at how a job is classified. They find the answers to questions, such as should an employee in this job be paid hourly or by salary? How should a person in this job be promoted or given a raise? How much should they be paid?

Specialists also develop training programs and workshops. They may also write or edit employee manuals and handbooks.

Records and files are important in employee benefits. Job benefits and analysis specialists keep records for each employee. They also keep records of all insurance programs. In addition, specialists often write reports that summarize the latest changes in a company's employee benefits program.

Related careers

This career is part of the Business Management and Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Accountants and Auditors
• Budget Analysts
• Buyers and Purchasing Agents
• Credit Analysts
• Financial Analysts
• Financial Counselors
• Financial Examiners
• Human Resources Assistants
• Human Resources Managers
• Human Resources Specialists
• Management Analysts
• Market Research Analysts
• Operations Research Analysts

Military careers

• Personnel Specialists
• Recruiting Specialists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to job benefits and analysis specialists.

• Oversee health insurance and retirement plans, working with insurance companies and carriers.
• Study job positions to determine how employees should be compensated. Write job classifications and descriptions.
• Make sure the company is following all federal and state laws.
• Advise managers and employees about benefits programs, rules, and policies.
• Develop and improve communications to promote different employee benefits plans and training opportunities.
• Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
• Mediate disputes between employer and employees.
• Develop ways for companies to evaluate employee job performance and all aspects of labor relations.
• Prepare and maintain records and employee handbooks.
• Develop training materials and workshops.
• Study ways to improve safety, health, productivity, and overall employee benefits programs. Prepare reports.
• May advise staff about hiring individuals.

Common work activities

Job benefits and analysis specialists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Analyze data or information
• Get information needed to do the job
• Use computers
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Process information
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Evaluate information against standards
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Document and record information
• Develop goals and strategies
• Think creatively
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Perform administrative tasks
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Develop and build teams
• Schedule work and activities

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, job benefits and analysis specialists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a medium to high level of social interaction. They discuss benefits with employees, but also spend time alone reviewing contracts and benefits plans.
• Communicate by telephone, letters, memos, e-mail, and in person on a daily basis.
• Are placed in conflict situations on a weekly basis. There may be disputes over benefits issues.
• Often work as a part of a larger human resources team.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors.

Work performance

• Make decisions that greatly impact their company, coworkers, and employees on a daily basis. They rarely consult a supervisor before deciding a course of action.
• Set nearly all their daily tasks and goals without consulting a supervisor first.
• Must be exact in their work.
• Abide by strict daily deadlines.
• Often repeat the same physical and mental activities, such as reviewing files and using the computer.

Hours/travel

• Generally work a set schedule.
• Usually work over 40 hours per week.

Physical demands

Job benefits and analysis specialists frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for job benefits and analysis specialists to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for job benefits and analysis specialists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.

Skills and abilities

Job benefits and analysis specialists need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand written information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.

Use math and science

• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Teach others how to do something.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Human Resources Management

Other programs of study to consider

• Labor and Industrial Relations
• Organizational Behavior

Training

To work as a job benefits and analysis specialist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• have one to five years of related work experience.

Education after high school

Many job benefits and analysis specialists have a bachelor's degree. Most colleges and universities offer programs in personnel or human resources management. Some have programs in labor relations. Additional programs of study that are good preparation are business administration and management. Regardless of your major, you should take courses in compensation, recruitment, performance appraisal, and training and development. As in other fields, knowledge of computers is important.

Work experience

Many employers prefer candidates who worked for a year or more as a human resource assistant.

On-the-job training

You should consider participating in an internship while in college. An internship is usually part of a four-year degree program. It offers you a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a work situation. It also allows you to build skills and make contacts with people in the field.

Some employers provide on-the-job training for specialists to learn the company's specific policies and benefits plans. Training may last up to six months.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be personnel or recruiting specialists. Some of the skills from those occupations transfer to job benefits and analysis. Training lasts four to nine weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Communications
• Computer Applications
• Ethnic and Gender Studies
• Introduction to Business
• Psychology
• Sociology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers usually seek college graduates to fill specialist positions. Many employers prefer applicants who have majored in human resources, personnel administration, or labor relations. Others look for graduates with a technical or business background. Many employers prefer graduates who have work experience from internships.

Some employers may require specialists to have a year or more of direct work experience in human resources. For example, working as a human resource assistant may give you the experience to become a job benefits and analysis specialist.

Costs to workers

Some workers join professional associations, which may have annual dues.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer and the specialist's duties.

Specialists who work full time usually receive benefits. Common benefits include paid vacation and holidays, health insurance, and a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Local and state government agencies
• Business management companies
• Professional associations
• Insurance companies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will grow about as fast as average. Specialists will be needed to determine each company's staffing needs and to write job descriptions. Job benefits specialists will continue to be needed by state and local agencies. The number of people who need help finding jobs varies with the state of the economy. When the economy is slow, there are more job seekers than jobs.

Job prospects are best for those with several years experience.

Other resources

Society for Human Resource Management 

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

• Business Management and Administration

Career path

• Conventional (Business Operations)

O*Net  occupation

• Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (13-1141.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Job Analyst (166.267-018) 
• Occupational Analyst (166.067-010) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Conventional/Enterprising/Investigative
• Conventional/Enterprising/Social

COPSystem

• Business Professional