Entry Level Benefits Counselor Jobs
New grad benefits counselor jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or hands-on coursework in HR or benefits administration can matter more than a long resume. Most openings reflect a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid settings across Insurance, Healthcare & Medical Services, and Consulting & Professional Services, with employers like Gallagher, CBIZ, and Marsh hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 57+ Entry Level Benefits Counselor jobs
Description
The Employment Security Department (ESD) has multiple openings for customer-focused, detail-oriented professionals to serve as an ES Benefits Technicians on our Customer Care Team supporting the Paid Family and Medical leave program.
This position is eligible for full-time telework within Washington State, though the successful candidates may occasionally be asked to travel to their assigned duty station within Washington State.
The anticipated start date for this position is February 16, 2027.
Our ideal candidate brings a genuine passion for serving people, demonstrates a positive, solutions-oriented mindset, and thrives in a team-centered, fast-paced environment. They excel at adapting to evolving directives, maintain strong attention to detail, and are comfortable navigating multiple systems and technologies while supporting customers by phone. They demonstrate strong competencies in Customer Needs Assessment, Problem Solving, Issue Resolution, Clear Communication, and Adaptability.
As part of the Operations Customer Care Team, the ES Benefit Technician supports the Insurance Services Division by handling a large volume of claimant calls, clarifying benefit information, and providing timely, courteous assistance. This role performs a variety of para-professional duties and administrative tasks that support Washington workers and employers.
Duties
Your primary job duties will be providing excellent customer service on a large volume of inbound and outbound customer contacts via phone, emails, and secure messages regarding Paid Leave and WA Cares program requirements, eligibility criteria, and services available. You will respond to routine and complex inquiries from claimants, their representatives, employers and/or businesses helping to clarify issues, research, locate, and provide information and answers and alternative solutions.
Some of what you will do:
- Provide customer delight while answering customer calls, emails, and secure messages regarding the Leave and Care Division’s WA Cares and Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs.
- Independently resolves routine client/customer complaints by identifying the issues, determining procedural steps for resolution, offer alternative solutions and communicates results to the clients/customers.
- Maintains confidentiality in the service performed in accordance with laws, policies, and procedures.
- Respond to routine and complex inquiries from clients and customers and provide information, research issues, and provide answers, and alternative solutions.
- Provide customer support on large volumes of inbound and outbound calls to assist in creating online accounts with Secure Access Washington, Paid Family and Medical Leave, and WA Cares programs.
- Provides customer assistance for Paid Family and Medical Leave services, including guiding them through the application process and providing information on documentation that is required, such as medical certifications, other supporting documentation to support their request and status updates.
- Provide agency interpretations and applies knowledge of the laws, regulations, and process in the resolution of inquiries, complaints, and issues.
- Acts as a liaison between clients/customers and the agency.
- Perform data entry and document customer interactions as required.
- Attend trainings, unit meetings, and all-staff meetings.
To request a detailed position description, click here.
Qualifications
Qualifications:
- Option 1: Two (2) years of a combination of education and relevant experience.
- Option 2: Two (2) years of customer service experience.
- Option 3: An Associate’s Degree.
Required Equity Competencies:
- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Required experience includes:
- Customer Needs Assessment and Problem Solving: Skill in identifying needs and providing solutions.
- Problem Resolution and Communication: Skill in resolving issues and providing clear communication.
- Adaptability and Versatility: Ability to perform various tasks as needed.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
- Two (2) years of call center experience, with the ability to handle a high-volume of inbound and outbound calls efficiently.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.
Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy. Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.
Please submit your Cover Letter, three (3) professional references and Resume with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.
Supplemental Information
Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.
Opportunity for All
We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Caleb Baldwin or at (253)-306-2999 or the Talent Acquisition Team, prior to the position closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.
This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This Organization Participates in E-Verify
Description
The Employment Security Department (ESD) has multiple openings for customer-focused, detail-oriented professionals to serve as an ES Benefits Technicians on our Customer Care Team supporting the Paid Family and Medical leave program.
This position is eligible for full-time telework within Washington State, though the successful candidates may occasionally be asked to travel to their assigned duty station within Washington State.
The anticipated start date for this position is February 16, 2027.
Our ideal candidate brings a genuine passion for serving people, demonstrates a positive, solutions-oriented mindset, and thrives in a team-centered, fast-paced environment. They excel at adapting to evolving directives, maintain strong attention to detail, and are comfortable navigating multiple systems and technologies while supporting customers by phone. They demonstrate strong competencies in Customer Needs Assessment, Problem Solving, Issue Resolution, Clear Communication, and Adaptability.
As part of the Operations Customer Care Team, the ES Benefit Technician supports the Insurance Services Division by handling a large volume of claimant calls, clarifying benefit information, and providing timely, courteous assistance. This role performs a variety of para-professional duties and administrative tasks that support Washington workers and employers.
Duties
Your primary job duties will be providing excellent customer service on a large volume of inbound and outbound customer contacts via phone, emails, and secure messages regarding Paid Leave and WA Cares program requirements, eligibility criteria, and services available. You will respond to routine and complex inquiries from claimants, their representatives, employers and/or businesses helping to clarify issues, research, locate, and provide information and answers and alternative solutions.
Some of what you will do:
- Provide customer delight while answering customer calls, emails, and secure messages regarding the Leave and Care Division’s WA Cares and Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs.
- Independently resolves routine client/customer complaints by identifying the issues, determining procedural steps for resolution, offer alternative solutions and communicates results to the clients/customers.
- Maintains confidentiality in the service performed in accordance with laws, policies, and procedures.
- Respond to routine and complex inquiries from clients and customers and provide information, research issues, and provide answers, and alternative solutions.
- Provide customer support on large volumes of inbound and outbound calls to assist in creating online accounts with Secure Access Washington, Paid Family and Medical Leave, and WA Cares programs.
- Provides customer assistance for Paid Family and Medical Leave services, including guiding them through the application process and providing information on documentation that is required, such as medical certifications, other supporting documentation to support their request and status updates.
- Provide agency interpretations and applies knowledge of the laws, regulations, and process in the resolution of inquiries, complaints, and issues.
- Acts as a liaison between clients/customers and the agency.
- Perform data entry and document customer interactions as required.
- Attend trainings, unit meetings, and all-staff meetings.
To request a detailed position description, click here.
Qualifications
Qualifications:
- Option 1: Two (2) years of a combination of education and relevant experience.
- Option 2: Two (2) years of customer service experience.
- Option 3: An Associate’s Degree.
Required Equity Competencies:
- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Required experience includes:
- Customer Needs Assessment and Problem Solving: Skill in identifying needs and providing solutions.
- Problem Resolution and Communication: Skill in resolving issues and providing clear communication.
- Adaptability and Versatility: Ability to perform various tasks as needed.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
- Two (2) years of call center experience, with the ability to handle a high-volume of inbound and outbound calls efficiently.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.
Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy. Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.
Please submit your Cover Letter, three (3) professional references and Resume with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.
Supplemental Information
Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.
Opportunity for All
We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Caleb Baldwin or at (253)-306-2999 or the Talent Acquisition Team, prior to the position closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.
This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This Organization Participates in E-Verify
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- Insurance18
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Entry Level Benefits Counselor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level benefits counselor job?
Start by highlighting any coursework in human resources, insurance, or employee benefits alongside internships, volunteer work, or administrative roles where you handled people-focused tasks. Employers at this level look for strong communication skills, attention to detail, and familiarity with benefits enrollment platforms. A relevant certification such as a CEBS designation or HR fundamentals credential can give your application a clear edge over other new grad candidates.
Which companies hire entry level benefits counselors?
Companies hiring entry level benefits counselors right now include Gallagher, CBIZ, and Marsh, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this experience level, hiring is spread across insurance carriers, HR outsourcing firms, healthcare systems, and large employers with in-house benefits teams that onboard and train junior staff.
Are there remote entry level benefits counselor jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by employer and role type. About 44% of entry level benefits counselor openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote positions often tied to call-center-style benefits support or open enrollment counseling that can be handled entirely by phone and video. On-site roles remain common at healthcare organizations and HR departments that prefer in-person client interaction.
Are these new grad benefits counselor jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior benefits counselor roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internships or fieldwork as qualifying background, or explicitly states that training is provided. If a job description lists a degree in HR, business, or a related field without requiring prior full-time benefits experience, it is typically open to new grad applicants.
Which industries hire the most entry level benefits counselors?
Entry Level benefits counselor roles concentrate in Insurance, Healthcare & Medical Services, and Consulting & Professional Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive entry level hiring because they maintain large workforces with complex benefits packages, creating steady demand for junior counselors who can guide employees through enrollment, claims, and coverage questions.