Compensation and Benefits Managers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $116,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $281,000 or more. The middle half of compensation and benefits managers in Washington earn between $143,160 and $216,980.
- $117K10th
- $143K25th
- $172KMedian
- $217K75th
- $281K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $186,990 | $15,582 | $89.90 |
| Median | $171,950 | $14,329 | $82.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $143,160 | $11,930 | $68.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $216,980 | $18,082 | $104.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $186,990, a single filer in Washington takes home about $126,302 a year, or $10,525 a month and $4,858 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $131,553 | $10,963 |
| Working in MD | $130,118 | $10,843 |
| Working in VA | $129,290 | $10,774 |
| Working in DC | $126,302 | $10,525 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for compensation and benefits managers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $186,990 buys what about $171,733 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$143,320
- Richmond, VA$175,500
- Harrisburg, PA$144,170
- Philadelphia, PA$157,360
- Virginia Beach, VA$134,810
- Pittsburgh, PA$161,340
Highest-paying cities for compensation and benefits managers
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($241,430).
- Bridgeport, CT$241,430
- San Jose, CA$227,460
- Seattle, WA$216,590
- Fayetteville, AR$214,020
- San Francisco, CA$203,270
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Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in Washington: questions
How much do compensation and benefits managers make an hour in Washington?
$89.90 an hour on average, and $82.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level compensation and benefits managers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $116,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $143,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the compensation and benefits managers take-home pay in Washington?
About $126,302 a year ($10,525 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $186,990.
Do compensation and benefits managers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($167,403).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 11-3111; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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