Benefits Specialist Jobs in Michigan
Benefits Specialist jobs in Michigan are in strong and consistent demand, concentrated in the automotive, healthcare, and financial services sectors that anchor the state's economy, with openings at every level from entry-level HR coordinator to senior total rewards manager. Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor generate the highest volume of postings, where major employers such as General Motors, Henry Ford Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan maintain large HR and benefits teams year-round. The most sought-after specialties in Michigan right now are health plan administration, retirement and 401(k) compliance, and leave management under FMLA. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Payroll, Benefits & Compliance Specialist
Location: Southfield, MI
Employment Type: Full-Time | On-Site
Department: Human Resources
Reports To: Human Resources Director
Support the People and Compliance Operations That Power EPIC Health
EPIC Health is a rapidly growing, multi-site healthcare organization expanding across multiple states. We are seeking an experienced Payroll, Benefits & Compliance Specialist to support accurate payroll processing, benefits administration, HR compliance, and employee lifecycle processes.
This role is ideal for a highly organized, detail-oriented HR professional who understands the importance of accuracy, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will be comfortable managing multiple priorities, researching state requirements, identifying compliance risks, and partnering with employees, managers, payroll, benefits vendors, and leadership to ensure a positive employee experience.
What You'll Do
Payroll Administration
- Process and audit multi-state payroll to ensure accurate and timely employee compensation.
- Support payroll operations across multiple states, including Michigan, Illinois, New York, California, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and additional states as the organization expands.
- Review payroll for accuracy, including wages, deductions, overtime, bonuses, PTO, reimbursements, and employee changes.
- Conduct regular payroll audits and reconcile discrepancies.
- Research and monitor state-specific payroll and employment requirements.
- Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation.
- Partner with Finance and HR leadership to resolve payroll issues and ensure accurate reporting.
- Support payroll tax filings and respond to payroll-related agency notices and inquiries.
Benefits Administration
- Administer employee benefits throughout the employee lifecycle, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k), and other company-sponsored benefits.
- Manage benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, changes, and terminations.
- Support annual open enrollment and employee benefit communications.
- Coordinate with benefits brokers, carriers, and vendors to resolve employee issues.
- Audit benefit deductions, carrier invoices, eligibility, and employer/employee contributions for accuracy.
- Monitor benefit contribution changes, catch-up contributions, and applicable IRS limits.
- Ensure benefits are administered consistently and in accordance with plan requirements and applicable regulations.
HR Compliance
- Monitor federal, state, and local employment requirements affecting payroll, benefits, and HR operations.
- Research state-specific employment, payroll, wage-and-hour, leave, and benefits requirements as the organization expands.
- Maintain compliance calendars, trackers, and documentation for required filings and deadlines.
- Support compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, including wage and hour, FLSA, FMLA, ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, and state leave requirements.
- Assist with required employment and benefits reporting, audits, and regulatory requests.
- Maintain accurate employee records and ensure required documentation is completed and retained.
- Identify potential compliance gaps and escalate issues to HR leadership promptly.
- Assist in developing and maintaining HR policies, procedures, and SOPs to support compliance and consistency.
- Stay current on regulatory changes and communicate relevant updates to HR leadership.
Employee Lifecycle & HR Support
- Support onboarding and offboarding processes, including required payroll, benefits, and employment documentation.
- Assist with I-9 verification and employment eligibility processes.
- Process employee status changes, transfers, compensation changes, benefit changes, and terminations.
- Respond to employee questions regarding payroll, benefits, leave, deductions, and HR policies.
- Maintain confidential employee information and ensure appropriate handling of sensitive records.
- Partner with HR and department leaders to resolve employee issues and ensure consistent application of policies.
Systems, Reporting & Process Improvement
- Maintain accurate employee and payroll data within ADP Workforce Now and other HR systems.
- Develop and maintain Excel reports and tracking tools for payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR metrics.
- Identify opportunities to automate, standardize, and improve payroll and HR processes.
- Develop and maintain SOPs and process documentation.
- Assist with HRIS/payroll system implementations, enhancements, and testing.
- Support audits and provide requested payroll, benefits, and compliance documentation.
What You Bring
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3+ years of experience in payroll, benefits, HR operations, or a related field.
- Experience with multi-state payroll and HR compliance.
- Strong understanding of payroll processing, benefits administration, and employment compliance.
- Experience researching and applying state-specific employment and payroll requirements.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to identify discrepancies and compliance risks.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to handle confidential employee and payroll information with discretion.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with ADP Workforce Now or similar payroll/HRIS platforms.
- Experience in healthcare, multi-site, or rapidly growing organizations.
- Experience administering benefits and working directly with benefits brokers and carriers.
- Knowledge of federal and state employment regulations.
- Experience with HR audits, compliance reporting, and regulatory filings.
- Experience with ACA, COBRA, FMLA, ERISA, HIPAA, and state leave requirements.
- SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or other relevant certification preferred.
Skills & Competencies
- Multi-state payroll administration
- Benefits administration
- HR compliance
- Payroll and benefits auditing
- State and federal employment regulations
- HRIS and payroll systems
- Excel and data analysis
- Policy and SOP development
- Regulatory research
- Confidentiality and discretion
- Strong attention to detail
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Organization and time management
Why Join EPIC Health?
At EPIC Health, you’ll have the opportunity to support a growing healthcare organization while helping build the payroll, benefits, and compliance infrastructure needed to support our employees and continued expansion.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation
- Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
- Disability and Life Insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay
- Professional development and ongoing training
- Supportive, collaborative, and team-oriented environment
- Opportunity for career growth within a rapidly expanding healthcare organization
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you’re an experienced payroll and HR professional who enjoys solving problems, maintaining compliance, and improving processes, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today and join EPIC Health as we continue building a stronger foundation for our growing organization.
Visit www.epichs.org to learn more about EPIC Health.
Background checks are required for this role.
See All 20 Benefits Specialist Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Benefits Specialist JobsBenefits Specialist Jobs by City in Michigan
Where Michigan roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Benefits Specialist Job Market in Michigan
A snapshot from current Michigan openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Michigan Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in benefits specialist jobs across Michigan.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field required
- CEBS, PHR, or SHRM-CP certification strongly preferred by Michigan employers
- Three or more years administering group health, dental, vision, or retirement benefits
- Hands-on experience with HRIS platforms such as Workday, SAP, or ADP
- Working knowledge of ERISA, FMLA, ACA compliance, and Michigan employment law
- Strong analytical skills including benefits cost modeling and open enrollment reporting
Benefits Specialist Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a benefits specialist in Michigan?
Most Michigan employers require a bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field as the starting point for a benefits specialist role. Michigan does not issue a state-specific license for this position, so professional certification is the recognized credential that sets candidates apart. The Certified Employee Benefit Specialist designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the SHRM-CP from the Society for Human Resource Management are the credentials Michigan employers reference most in job postings.
How much do benefits specialists make in Michigan?
Benefits specialists in Michigan earn a median of about $79,480 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $52,470 for the lowest 10% to over $127,870 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire benefits specialists in Michigan?
Employers hiring benefits specialists in Michigan right now include Henry Ford Health, ASR Corporation, and Forvia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Michigan's concentration of large automotive manufacturers, major hospital systems, and regional insurance carriers means demand for benefits specialists is spread across a wider range of industries than in most states.
Which Michigan cities have the most benefits specialist jobs?
The Michigan cities with the most benefits specialist openings are Grand Rapids, Rochester Hills, and Troy. Detroit leads because of the density of corporate headquarters, health systems, and financial institutions in the metro, while Grand Rapids draws volume from its large healthcare and manufacturing employers, and Ann Arbor benefits from the University of Michigan's extensive HR operations alongside a growing life sciences and tech sector.
Are there remote benefits specialist jobs in Michigan?
Yes, and more than most HR roles, because benefits administration is largely desk-based and systems-driven work that translates well to remote environments. About 67% of benefits specialist openings tied to Michigan are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how broadly employers have embraced flexible arrangements for this function. Open enrollment support, vendor coordination, and compliance reporting are the sub-functions most consistently offered on a fully remote basis.
How can I get hired as a benefits specialist in Michigan with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing an HR coordinator or HR generalist role at a large Michigan employer and taking on benefits administration as part of that position. Henry Ford Health, Beaumont Health, and the University of Michigan all post early-career HR openings that include benefits exposure. Completing the SHRM-CP exam before applying signals commitment and gives candidates a concrete credential to offset thin experience. A lateral move from a benefits broker's client services team or an insurance carrier's enrollment support desk is another common route Michigan hiring managers recognize.
Where can I find and apply to benefits specialist jobs in Michigan?
You can find and apply to benefits specialist jobs in Michigan on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 20 Benefits Specialist Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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