Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary
Compensation and Benefits Managers in Winston-Salem, NC make a median of $129,580 a year, or about $62.3 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $220K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.04), which stretches that salary to about $140,787 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,232/month, or 15.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $130K get you in Winston-Salem?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Winston-Salem’s Regional Price Parity (92.04). 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 Winston-Salem
Pay for compensation and benefits managers in Winston-Salem runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $149K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,232/month, 15.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.04 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Winston-Salem can be a reasonable trade-off for compensation and benefits managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for compensation and benefits managers in metros near Winston-Salem, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $167K | $172K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $105K | $108K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $132K | $134K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $132K | $142K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Winston-Salem, NC
Entry-level compensation and benefits managers (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $130K. Top earners bring in $220K or more, a $135K 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 Winston-Salem numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a compensation and benefits manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Winston-Salem?
Yes — at the median salary of $130K, rent takes 15.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,232/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for compensation and benefits managers in Winston-Salem?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new compensation and benefits managers typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,111/month. At HUD’s $1,232/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is compensation and benefits manager a high-paying job in Winston-Salem?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $130K here vs. $149K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Winston-Salem compare to the national average for compensation and benefits managers?
Winston-Salem pays $130K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.04), the purchasing-power equivalent is $141K — below the national median.
How much do compensation and benefits managers make in Winston-Salem, NC?
The median is $129,580 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,180, and experienced compensation and benefits managers can clear $220,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $130K enough to live in Winston-Salem?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,791/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,232/month, which eats 15.8% 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 Winston-Salem?
Winston-Salem has a Regional Price Parity of 92.04 (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 $140,787 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.