Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary
Compensation and Benefits Managers in Ohio make a median of $141,920 a year, or about $68.23 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $227K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $155,189 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 13.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $142K get you in Ohio?
About compensation and benefits managers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Compensation and benefits managers pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $142K locally vs. $149K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 13.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level compensation and benefits managers (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $142K. Top earners bring in $227K or more, a $143K spread from bottom to top.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary by metro in Ohio
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $164K | +15% | 110 |
| Columbus | $147K | +4% | 80 |
| Cincinnati | $136K | -4% | 100 |
| Toledo | $111K | -22% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track compensation and benefits managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a compensation and benefits manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $142K, rent takes 13.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for compensation and benefits managers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new compensation and benefits managers typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,075/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is compensation and benefits manager a high-paying job in Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $142K locally vs. $149K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for compensation and benefits managers?
Ohio pays $142K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $155K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do compensation and benefits managers make in Ohio?
The median is $141,920 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,580, and experienced compensation and benefits managers can clear $227,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $142K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,685/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 13.7% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $155,189 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.