Benefits Specialist Jobs in California
Benefits Specialist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand from technology companies, healthcare systems, entertainment studios, and large financial services firms at every level from benefits coordinator through senior benefits manager. The heaviest hiring concentrates in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego, where anchor employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Apple, and Wells Fargo regularly seek benefits professionals. The most sought-after specialties in California include health and welfare plan administration, 401(k) and retirement plan compliance, and leave management under California's complex state leave laws. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Reporting to the Senior Benefits Manager, this role requires precision, sound judgment, and a strong customer-service orientation, as the Specialist is often an employee’s first point of contact for benefits questions and transactions.
Serve as a primary resource for employees with benefits and retirement plan questions, providing guidance on enrollment, plan policies, eligibility, and contributions.
Chapman University’s mission is centered on serving our students and strengthening our campus community. Chapman believes there is significant value in an in-person workforce. Being present fosters collaboration, strengthens relationships across departments, enables us to better serve our co-workers and contributes to the student experience. It is an important part of the culture that makes Chapman a special place to work and learn.
- Process new-hire enrollments, terminations, benefit election changes, and qualifying life events (marriage, birth, divorce, loss of coverage), verifying supporting documentation for compliance.
- Verify eligibility for employees and dependents in accordance with plan rules and applicable regulations.
- Audit benefit enrollments for accuracy, proactively identifying and resolving discrepancies.
- Support all open enrollment activities
- Process retirement plan enrollments, changes, loans, hardship withdrawals, and distribution requests, coordinating with the plan vendor and ensuring compliance with plan documents and IRS regulations.
- Monitor employee contributions, employer match calculations, and vesting schedules for accuracy; reconcile contribution files and payments with the plan recordkeeper on a regular basis.
- Support annual compliance activities, including nondiscrimination testing, 5500 audit preparation, and required employee notices.
- Perform tuition remission data entry and processing in accordance with university policy.
- Support processing biweekly and monthly insurance carrier data feeds, ensuring accuracy and timely transmission.
- Verify, audit, and reconcile benefit invoices and process payments on schedule.
- Prepare and process payroll deduction forms, partnering with Payroll to ensure accuracy and timely corrections.
- Conduct proactive outreach to employees on leave of absence regarding benefit premiums and payment arrangements.
- Maintain accurate, well-organized, audit-ready benefit records and documentation.
- Partner with brokers and carriers to resolve employee issues and discrepancies.
- Respond to employee inquiries in accordance with university standard operating procedures and compliance with federal and state regulations escalating complex issues as needed.
- Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
- Minimum of two years’ experience in benefits administration.
- Working knowledge of health and welfare benefit plans, eligibility rules, and enrollment processes.
- Familiarity with retirement plan enrollment processes (e.g., 403(b)/401(k)) preferred.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and work independently or as part of a team to deliver a seamless employee experience.
- Communicates with empathy, professionalism, and sound judgment, ensuring consistent follow-through.
- High degree of accuracy and attention to detail; exercises discretion and maintains confidentiality with sensitive information.
- Prior experience with HRIS or benefits administration systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, Workday, ADP, or similar) preferred.
- Comfortable managing competing priorities and shifting business needs with composure.
- Knowledge of ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, and FMLA preferred; motivated candidates without full regulatory knowledge will be supported through training.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel); able to quickly learn and adapt to HRIS and benefits systems.
Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.
Reporting to the Senior Benefits Manager, this role requires precision, sound judgment, and a strong customer-service orientation, as the Specialist is often an employee’s first point of contact for benefits questions and transactions.
Serve as a primary resource for employees with benefits and retirement plan questions, providing guidance on enrollment, plan policies, eligibility, and contributions.
Chapman University’s mission is centered on serving our students and strengthening our campus community. Chapman believes there is significant value in an in-person workforce. Being present fosters collaboration, strengthens relationships across departments, enables us to better serve our co-workers and contributes to the student experience. It is an important part of the culture that makes Chapman a special place to work and learn.
- Process new-hire enrollments, terminations, benefit election changes, and qualifying life events (marriage, birth, divorce, loss of coverage), verifying supporting documentation for compliance.
- Verify eligibility for employees and dependents in accordance with plan rules and applicable regulations.
- Audit benefit enrollments for accuracy, proactively identifying and resolving discrepancies.
- Support all open enrollment activities
- Process retirement plan enrollments, changes, loans, hardship withdrawals, and distribution requests, coordinating with the plan vendor and ensuring compliance with plan documents and IRS regulations.
- Monitor employee contributions, employer match calculations, and vesting schedules for accuracy; reconcile contribution files and payments with the plan recordkeeper on a regular basis.
- Support annual compliance activities, including nondiscrimination testing, 5500 audit preparation, and required employee notices.
- Perform tuition remission data entry and processing in accordance with university policy.
- Support processing biweekly and monthly insurance carrier data feeds, ensuring accuracy and timely transmission.
- Verify, audit, and reconcile benefit invoices and process payments on schedule.
- Prepare and process payroll deduction forms, partnering with Payroll to ensure accuracy and timely corrections.
- Conduct proactive outreach to employees on leave of absence regarding benefit premiums and payment arrangements.
- Maintain accurate, well-organized, audit-ready benefit records and documentation.
- Partner with brokers and carriers to resolve employee issues and discrepancies.
- Respond to employee inquiries in accordance with university standard operating procedures and compliance with federal and state regulations escalating complex issues as needed.
- Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
- Minimum of two years’ experience in benefits administration.
- Working knowledge of health and welfare benefit plans, eligibility rules, and enrollment processes.
- Familiarity with retirement plan enrollment processes (e.g., 403(b)/401(k)) preferred.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and work independently or as part of a team to deliver a seamless employee experience.
- Communicates with empathy, professionalism, and sound judgment, ensuring consistent follow-through.
- High degree of accuracy and attention to detail; exercises discretion and maintains confidentiality with sensitive information.
- Prior experience with HRIS or benefits administration systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, Workday, ADP, or similar) preferred.
- Comfortable managing competing priorities and shifting business needs with composure.
- Knowledge of ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, and FMLA preferred; motivated candidates without full regulatory knowledge will be supported through training.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel); able to quickly learn and adapt to HRIS and benefits systems.
Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.
See All 32 Benefits Specialist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Benefits Specialist JobsBenefits Specialist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Benefits Specialist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research
- Technology & Software
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in benefits specialist jobs across California.
- SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, CBP, or CEBS certification strongly preferred or required
- Demonstrated experience administering health, dental, vision, and retirement benefit plans
- Working knowledge of California leave laws including CFRA, PDL, and California SDI
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms such as Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or Oracle HCM
- Experience ensuring benefits compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, and ACA reporting requirements
- Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret plan documents and vendor invoices
Benefits Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a benefits specialist in California?
Most California employers require a bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field as the foundation. There is no California state license for this role, but professional certifications carry significant weight in the local market: the Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) from WorldatWork and the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP from the Society for Human Resource Management are the credentials most consistently requested. Familiarity with California-specific leave statutes and benefit regulations distinguishes candidates in this market.
How much do benefits specialists make in California?
Benefits specialists in California earn a median of about $91,410 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $60,070 for the lowest 10% to over $150,180 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire benefits specialists in California?
Employers hiring benefits specialists in California right now include Saviynt, Solano County, and Kaiser Permanente, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of large technology headquarters, major healthcare networks, and entertainment industry employers means the market draws a broad and consistently active mix of organizations.
Which California cities have the most benefits specialist jobs?
San Diego, Los Angeles, and California are the California cities with the most benefits specialist openings. The distribution follows employer density: Los Angeles draws volume from healthcare systems, media companies, and corporate headquarters, the Bay Area is anchored by technology and financial services firms, and San Diego's biotech and defense sectors generate steady demand for benefits professionals supporting large, benefits-competitive workforces.
Are there remote benefits specialist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most HR specialties, because benefits administration is largely desk-based work that translates well to remote environments. About 73% of benefits specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the broader shift in corporate HR functions. Roles focused on plan analysis, vendor management, and compliance reporting tend to be the most remote-friendly, while open enrollment support and employee-facing roles more often require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a benefits specialist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an HR coordinator or HR generalist role at a mid-size California employer, where benefits administration is one responsibility among several and hands-on exposure builds quickly. Large California employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Disney, and Salesforce run HR rotational or associate programs that place early-career candidates into benefits teams. Earning a SHRM-CP or completing a WorldatWork benefits certificate course before applying signals commitment and gives a candidate a measurable edge over others without direct experience.
Where can I find and apply to benefits specialist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to benefits specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, specialization, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 32 Benefits Specialist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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