Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary
Compensation and Benefits Managers in Cleveland, OH make a median of $163,500 a year, or about $78.61 an hour. The range runs from $96K at the entry level to $236K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.92), which stretches that salary to about $174,084 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,279/month, or 12.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $164K get you in Cleveland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Cleveland’s Regional Price Parity (93.92). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About compensation and benefits managers
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What this looks like in Cleveland
Compensation and benefits managers pay in Cleveland tracks closely to the national median, $164K locally vs. $149K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,279/month, 13% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.92 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for compensation and benefits managers in metros near Cleveland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $136K | $143K |
| Columbus | $147K | $154K |
| Toledo | $111K | $121K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $149K | $145K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Cleveland, OH
Entry-level compensation and benefits managers (10th percentile) start around $96K. Mid-career wages sit at $164K. Top earners bring in $236K or more, a $139K spread from bottom to top.
Compensation and Benefits Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $199K | +33% | 460 |
| Connecticut | $198K | +33% | 480 |
| Massachusetts | $184K | +23% | 670 |
| New York | $176K | +18% | 2,260 |
| New Jersey | $168K | +13% | 950 |
| California | $167K | +12% | 2,970 |
| Delaware | $166K | +11% | 50 |
| Colorado | $166K | +11% | 280 |
| Minnesota | $163K | +9% | 360 |
| Georgia | $163K | +9% | 1,010 |
| Oregon | $161K | +8% | 240 |
| District of Columbia | $161K | +8% | 130 |
| Virginia | $154K | +3% | N/A |
| Illinois | $152K | +2% | 780 |
| Michigan | $152K | +2% | 580 |
| Rhode Island | $149K | +0% | 50 |
| Ohio | $142K | -5% | 460 |
| Maryland | $140K | -6% | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $139K | -7% | 770 |
| New Hampshire | $137K | -8% | 100 |
| Texas | $137K | -8% | 2,230 |
| North Carolina | $135K | -9% | 880 |
| Tennessee | $133K | -11% | 670 |
| Utah | $133K | -11% | 200 |
| Arizona | $130K | -13% | 510 |
| Maine | $130K | -13% | 50 |
| Florida | $128K | -14% | 1,670 |
| Wisconsin | $128K | -14% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $124K | -17% | 40 |
| Alaska | $122K | -18% | 30 |
| Nebraska | $122K | -18% | 140 |
| Alabama | $118K | -21% | 90 |
| Iowa | $118K | -21% | 120 |
| Indiana | $118K | -21% | 170 |
| Nevada | $115K | -23% | 180 |
| Kentucky | $114K | -23% | 110 |
| Kansas | $114K | -24% | 70 |
| Hawaii | $110K | -26% | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $108K | -28% | 180 |
| Missouri | $106K | -29% | 250 |
| Arkansas | $101K | -32% | 140 |
| Louisiana | $100K | -33% | 220 |
| South Carolina | $100K | -33% | 330 |
| Idaho | $90K | -40% | 100 |
| Mississippi | $89K | -40% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track compensation and benefits managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Cleveland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a compensation and benefits manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Cleveland?
Yes — at the median salary of $164K, rent takes 13% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,279/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for compensation and benefits managers in Cleveland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new compensation and benefits managers typically earn — is $96K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,789/month. At HUD’s $1,279/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 Cleveland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $164K locally vs. $149K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Cleveland compare to the national average for compensation and benefits managers?
Cleveland pays $164K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.92), the purchasing-power equivalent is $174K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do compensation and benefits managers make in Cleveland, OH?
The median is $163,500 a year, that works out to about $79 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,490, and experienced compensation and benefits managers can clear $235,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $164K enough to live in Cleveland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,851/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,279/month, which eats 13% 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 Cleveland?
Cleveland has a Regional Price Parity of 93.92 (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 $174,084 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.