Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary
Compensation and Benefits Managers in Alabama make a median of $118,470 a year, or about $56.96 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $206K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $134,077 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 14.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $118K get you in Alabama?
About compensation and benefits managers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for compensation and benefits managers in Alabama runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $149K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 15.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Alabama can be a reasonable trade-off for compensation and benefits managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level compensation and benefits managers (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $118K. Top earners bring in $206K or more, a $122K spread from bottom to top.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary by metro in Alabama
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $157K | +32% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track compensation and benefits managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a compensation and benefits manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $118K, rent takes 15.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for compensation and benefits managers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new compensation and benefits managers typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,045/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is compensation and benefits manager a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $118K here vs. $149K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for compensation and benefits managers?
Alabama pays $118K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $134K — below the national median.
How much do compensation and benefits managers make in Alabama?
The median is $118,470 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,090, and experienced compensation and benefits managers can clear $205,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $118K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,164/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 15.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a compensation and benefits managers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median compensation and benefits managers salary is worth about $134,077 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do compensation and benefits managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.