Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary
Compensation and Benefits Managers in New Jersey make a median of $168,370 a year, or about $80.95 an hour. The range runs from $112K at the entry level to $260K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $169,489 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,067/month, or 20.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $168K get you in New Jersey?
About compensation and benefits managers
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for compensation and benefits managers, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $149K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,067/month, 21.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, New Jersey offers a genuinely strong financial position for compensation and benefits managerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level compensation and benefits managers (10th percentile) start around $112K. Mid-career wages sit at $168K. Top earners bring in $260K or more, a $148K spread from bottom to top.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary by metro in New Jersey
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $187K | +11% | 60 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a compensation and benefits manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
Yes — at the median salary of $168K, rent takes 21.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for compensation and benefits managers in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new compensation and benefits managers typically earn — is $112K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,703/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is compensation and benefits manager a high-paying job in New Jersey?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $168K here vs. $149K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for compensation and benefits managers?
New Jersey pays $168K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $169K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do compensation and benefits managers make in New Jersey?
The median is $168,370 a year, that works out to about $81 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $111,720, and experienced compensation and benefits managers can clear $259,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $168K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,770/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 21.2% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $169,489 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.