Payroll and Benefits Managers: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of payroll and benefits managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for payroll and benefits managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of payroll and benefits managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for payroll and benefits managers.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Payroll and Benefits Managers?

Do payroll and benefits managers need a degree? What kind of experience do payroll and benefits managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for payroll and benefits managers to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Payroll and Benefits Managers

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of payroll and benefits managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 58% of positions. In 21% of job listings no education level was listed and in 15% of postings a master's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Payroll and Benefits Managers

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for payroll and benefits managers. In 40% of job postings for Payroll and Benefits Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 21% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 7-9 years of experience, while 10+ years of experience was sought in 17% of job postings for payroll and benefits managers.

What Kind of Degree Do Payroll and Benefits Managers Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for payroll and benefits managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 1 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective payroll and benefits managers, and in 2021 a total of 18,408 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective payroll and benefits managers.

Top Degree Programs for Payroll and Benefits Managers

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Payroll and Benefits Managers

What Skills Do Payroll and Benefits Managers Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by payroll and benefits managers to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for payroll and benefits managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Payroll and Benefits Managers
Based on 23,698 job postings

Based on 23,698 job postings related to payroll and benefits managers, finance was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 24% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, auditing, human resources information system (hris), accounting and data analysis were also highly sought.

As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for payroll and benefits managers, followed by management, leadership, microsoft excel, detail oriented and customer service.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about payroll and benefits managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for payroll and benefits managers.

What do payroll and benefits managers do?
How much do payroll and benefits managers make?

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