Compensation and Benefits Managers
Machines can already do 35% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 62%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Compensation and Benefits Managers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 35% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2031, and 62% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 22,940 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $149,230 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 66% for contact with people.
- Also called: Benefits Coordinator, Benefits Director, Benefits Manager, Compensation and Benefits Director.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze compensation policies, government regulations, and prevailing wage rates to develop competitive compensation plan | 11% | 50% to 85% | |
| Administer, direct, and review employee benefit programs, including the integration of benefit programs following mergers and acquisitions | 10% | 28% to 58% | |
| Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations | 10% | 10% to 30% | |
| Design, evaluate, and modify benefits policies to ensure that programs are current, competitive, and in compliance with legal requirements | 9% | 28% to 58% | |
| Identify and implement benefits to increase the quality of life for employees by working with brokers and researching benefits issues | 7% | 30% to 60% | |
| Prepare detailed job descriptions and classification systems and define job levels and families, in partnership with other managers | 7% | 70% to 95% | |
| Direct preparation and distribution of written and verbal information to inform employees of benefits, compensation, and personnel policies | 6% | 10% to 30% | |
| Fulfill all reporting requirements of all relevant government rules and regulations, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) | 6% | 70% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills compensation and benefits managers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Chief Operating Officers50% of tasks by 2035
- Chief Legal Officers53% of tasks by 2035
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $69,990
- General and Operations Managers49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $105,770
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Compensation and Benefits Managers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2031. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of compensation and benefits managers?
Machines can do 35% of the tasks of compensation and benefits managers today and 62% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 11-3111.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Compensation and Benefits Managers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/compensation-and-benefits-managers/