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Salary comparison

Compensation and Benefits Managers vs. General and Operations Managers: Who Earns More?

Compensation and Benefits Managerss out-earn General and Operations Managerss by $43K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Compensation and Benefits Managerss land at $149,230 and General and Operations Managerss at $105,770. The education gap is real: compensation and benefits manager programs typically require bachelor's degree, while general and operations manager programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Compensation and Benefits Managerss is Washington ($199,190); for General and Operations Managerss it's New Jersey ($173,690).

Compensation and Benefits Managers
General and Operations Managers
Median salary
$149,230
$105,770
Hourly rate
$71.75/hr
$50.85/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$89,160
$50,090
Senior level (90th %)
$256,570
$253,390
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
22,940
3,503,020
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
4.4%
Category
Management
Management
Top-paying state
Washington
New Jersey

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Compensation and Benefits Managers median pay.

State
Compensation and Benefits Managers
General and Operations Managers
Washington
$199,190
$133,750
Connecticut
$197,970
$137,220
Massachusetts
$184,070
$127,220
New York
$175,620
$130,860
New Jersey
$168,370
$173,690
California
$166,730
$124,390
Delaware
$166,070
$137,220
Colorado
$165,770
$131,840
District of Columbia
$160,990
$168,000
Virginia
$153,660
$122,080
Rhode Island
$149,340
$117,380
Maryland
$139,860
$117,930
New Hampshire
$136,950
$124,680
Wisconsin
$127,920
$118,730
Alaska
$122,490
$116,630

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Compensation and Benefits Managerss or General and Operations Managerss?

Compensation and Benefits Managerss earn more nationally. The median is $149,230 for Compensation and Benefits Managerss versus $105,770 for General and Operations Managerss, a difference of $43K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Compensation and Benefits Managers or General and Operations Managers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Compensation and Benefits Managers or General and Operations Managers?

Compensation and Benefits Managers typically requires bachelor's degree. General and Operations Managers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Compensation and Benefits Managerss get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Compensation and Benefits Managerss at $199,190/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Compensation and Benefits Managers vs. General and Operations Managers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Compensation and Benefits Managerss earn $199,190 vs. $133,750 for General and Operations Managerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Compensation and Benefits Managers salary breakdownView →Full General and Operations Managers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Compensation and Benefits Managerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for General and Operations Managerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a compensation and benefits managersGuide →How to become a general and operations managersGuide →