Retirement Plan Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of retirement plan specialists 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 retirement plan specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of retirement plan specialists 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 retirement plan specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Retirement Plan Specialists?
Do retirement plan specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do retirement plan specialists 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 retirement plan specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Retirement Plan Specialists
Jobs Postings for Retirement Plan Specialists By Education
- No Education Listed: 46,719 (39%)
- Bachelor's degree: 41,180 (35%)
- High School or GED: 22,635 (19%)
- Master's degree: 6,197 (5%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,932 (2%)
No education was listed by most employers of retirement plan specialists. According to job data, no education was required for 39% of positions. In 35% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 19% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Retirement Plan Specialists
Jobs Postings for Retirement Plan Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 14,063 (26%)
- 2-3 Years: 23,387 (43%)
- 4-6 Years: 13,792 (25%)
- 7-9 Years: 2,290 (4%)
- 10+ Years: 1,254 (2%)
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 retirement plan specialists. In 43% of job postings for Retirement Plan Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 26% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 25% of job postings for retirement plan specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Retirement Plan Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for retirement plan specialists, 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 retirement plan specialists, and in 2023 a total of 16,602 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 retirement plan specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Retirement Plan Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Retirement Plan Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
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 Retirement Plan Specialists
Find ways to attract, train, and retain the very best talent by implementing effective benefits and labor-relations strategies.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Learn the strategic skills needed to be a leader in the evolving field of Human Resources.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Retirement Plan Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by retirement plan specialists 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 retirement plan specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Retirement Plan Specialists
Based on 109,906 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Retirement Plan Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Auditing | 13,860 | 13% |
| Finance | 9,100 | 8% |
| Accounting | 8,902 | 8% |
| Human Resources Information System (HRIS) | 8,472 | 8% |
| Project Management | 7,456 | 7% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Retirement Plan Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 37,610 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 28,086 | 26% |
| Management | 22,937 | 21% |
| Detail Oriented | 20,106 | 18% |
| Microsoft Excel | 19,130 | 17% |
Based on 109,906 job postings related to retirement plan specialists, auditing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 13% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for finance, accounting, human resources information system (hris), project management and compensation analysis were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for retirement plan specialists, followed by customer service, management, detail oriented, microsoft excel and problem solving.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Auditing | 13,860 | 13% |
| Finance | 9,100 | 8% |
| Accounting | 8,902 | 8% |
| Human Resources Information System (HRIS) | 8,472 | 8% |
| Project Management | 7,456 | 7% |
| Compensation Analysis | 7,309 | 7% |
| Benefits Enrollment Processes | 6,794 | 6% |
| Billing | 6,490 | 6% |
| Data Analysis | 6,290 | 6% |
| Benefits Administration | 5,503 | 5% |
| Process Improvement | 5,298 | 5% |
| Marketing | 5,104 | 5% |
| Invoicing | 3,871 | 4% |
| Workflow Management | 3,835 | 3% |
| Data Entry | 3,818 | 3% |
| Workday (Software) | 3,814 | 3% |
| Case Management | 2,954 | 3% |
| Social Work | 2,896 | 3% |
| Administrative Support | 2,853 | 3% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 2,758 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 37,610 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 28,086 | 26% |
| Management | 22,937 | 21% |
| Detail Oriented | 20,106 | 18% |
| Microsoft Excel | 19,130 | 17% |
| Problem Solving | 17,161 | 16% |
| Writing | 14,318 | 13% |
| Microsoft Office | 13,973 | 13% |
| Research | 12,986 | 12% |
| Sales | 12,978 | 12% |
| Operations | 12,276 | 11% |
| Leadership | 11,427 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 10,505 | 10% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 9,701 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 9,585 | 9% |
| Presentations | 9,359 | 9% |
| Time Management | 8,626 | 8% |
| Multitasking | 8,474 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 8,452 | 8% |
| Planning | 8,421 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about retirement plan specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for retirement plan specialists.
What do retirement plan specialists do?
How much do retirement plan specialists make?
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