Compensation & Benefits Specialist Salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont

Manages employee pay structures, benefits programs, and job classification systems.

Ranks #4 of 530 metros·California·$113,090 avg

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks #4 of 530 U.S. metro areas for compensation & benefits specialist pay. Entry-level salaries here are $26,496 above the national average.

Level I
$76,752
vs national avg: +53%
Level II
$94,827
vs national avg: +53%
Level III
$112,923
vs national avg: +53%
Level IV
$130,998
vs national avg: +54%

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont vs National Average

LevelThis MetroNational AvgDifference% Change
Level I (Entry)$76,752$50,256+$26,496+52.7%
Level II$94,827$61,931+$32,896+53.1%
Level III (Mid)$112,923$73,605+$39,318+53.4%
Level IV (Senior)$130,998$85,280+$45,718+53.6%

Other metros in California

Metro AreaLevel ILevel IVAverage
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$83,824$163,509$137,218
Merced$68,328$144,269$119,205
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$62,837$112,362$96,034
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara$63,544$109,221$94,141
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$63,190$109,221$94,037

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average compensation & benefits specialist salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?

The average compensation & benefits specialist salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont is $113,090 per year, based on U.S. Department of Labor employer survey data. This places San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at rank #4 out of 530 U.S. metro areas surveyed.

What do entry-level compensation & benefits specialists earn in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?

Entry-level compensation & benefits specialists (Level I) in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont earn $76,752 per year. Level II (early career) earns $94,827, reflecting growing independence and experience.

How does San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont compare to the national average for compensation & benefits specialist salaries?

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks #4 of 530 U.S. metro areas for compensation & benefits specialist pay. Entry-level salaries here are $26,496 above the national average. The national average compensation & benefits specialist salary is $73,722, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont workers average $113,090 — a difference of +53% overall.

Data source: Salary data sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers nationwide to collect wage data by occupation and geography. The four experience levels reflect DOL standardized tiers. Data reflects the most recently published survey cycle. SOC code: 13-1141.