Benefits Administrator Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Tucson's largest employers run their employee benefits in-house, which keeps benefits administrators in steady demand. Pima County administers a benefits program for a workforce of thousands and posts benefits coordinator roles, UNS Energy and its Tucson Electric Power subsidiary hire senior benefits analysts, and the City of Tucson staffs benefits inside its HR department. On the brokerage side, Marsh McLennan Agency runs an Employee Health and Benefits team in Tucson serving employer clients across the region. It is compliance-heavy work built around ERISA, ACA, COBRA, and HIPAA rules.
Current Benefits Administrator Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring Benefits Administrators
These Tucson-area organizations run benefits programs large enough to staff dedicated administrators:
- Pima County - benefits coordinator roles administering medical and wellness programs for a workforce of thousands.
- UNS Energy / Tucson Electric Power - senior benefits analyst roles partnering with HR business partners on leave and benefits.
- City of Tucson - benefits administered within municipal HR for a large civil-service workforce.
- Marsh McLennan Agency - Employee Health and Benefits brokerage serving Tucson employer clients.
- Banner Health - large self-funded benefits administration for the Banner - University Medical Center system.
- South32 - benefits specialist roles supporting mining-sector employees in the Tucson area.
Benefits Administrator Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level: about $48,000 - $56,000 per year
- Experienced: about $60,000 - $78,000 per year
- Senior / CEBS-credentialed: about $85,000 - $105,000+ per year
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. The Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation tends to push pay toward the upper end. As a local benchmark, Pima County posts benefits coordinator roles roughly in the $52,000 to $73,000 range, and public employers add the ASRS pension on top of the benefits they administer.
How to Become a Benefits Administrator in Tucson
For an in-house benefits administrator role there is no Arizona license requirement, though the credential that carries the most weight is the CEBS designation, offered through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans with a curriculum from the Wharton School; its GBA and RPA specialty designations stack into the full CEBS. A SHRM-CP or HRCI PHR also helps. What you must know is the compliance landscape: ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, plus FSA, HSA, and 401(k) mechanics. One important local distinction: if you move to the brokerage side at a firm like Marsh McLennan and start advising or selling coverage, Arizona requires a Life and Health insurance producer license through the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI). Pima Community College's HR Certificate is a solid foundation for the in-house path.
What the Job Involves
A benefits administrator manages the full slate of employee benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA and HSA accounts, and retirement plans. Day to day that means running open enrollment, handling COBRA and ACA 1095-C reporting, reconciling carrier invoices, counseling employees on their options, managing broker and vendor relationships, and keeping everything compliant with ERISA and HIPAA. At a large Tucson employer you also coordinate closely with payroll so deductions and contributions stay accurate.
Skills Employers Look For
- Working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, and HIPAA compliance
- Benefits and HRIS platforms such as ADP, Workday, or Employee Navigator
- Strong Excel for invoice reconciliation and benefits reporting
- Vendor and broker relationship management
- Clear communication for open enrollment and employee counseling
- Bilingual Spanish-English, valued for benefits enrollment across Tucson
Career Path & Advancement
A common Tucson ladder runs from Benefits Coordinator to Benefits Administrator or Specialist, then Senior Benefits Analyst, then Benefits Manager and Director of Compensation and Benefits. Employers like UNS Energy and Pima County post tiered analyst roles that make the steps clear, and earning the CEBS designation is often what accelerates movement into the senior and management levels.
Related Careers in Tucson
Benefits administrators frequently work alongside or move into these Tucson roles:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a benefits administrator in Tucson?
For an in-house benefits administrator role at an employer like Pima County or the City of Tucson, no license is required. If you move to the brokerage side and begin advising on or selling coverage at a firm like Marsh McLennan Agency, Arizona requires a Life and Health insurance producer license through the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI).
What is the CEBS certification and does it help in Tucson?
CEBS stands for Certified Employee Benefit Specialist, a designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans with curriculum from the Wharton School. It is the most recognized benefits credential and can meaningfully raise pay. In Tucson it is a plus rather than a requirement, and its GBA and RPA specialty designations let you build toward it in stages.
How much do benefits administrators make in Tucson?
Estimates run from roughly $48,000 at entry to the high $70,000s with experience, with senior and CEBS-credentialed roles reaching into six figures. Pima County posts benefits coordinator roles roughly in the $52,000 to $73,000 range as a local benchmark. Actual pay depends on the employer, your certifications, and the size of the benefits program.
Which Tucson employers hire benefits administrators?
Mainly large employers with in-house benefits teams: Pima County, the City of Tucson, UNS Energy and Tucson Electric Power, and healthcare systems like Banner. On the brokerage side, Marsh McLennan Agency's Employee Health and Benefits group serves employer clients across the Tucson region. Mining employers such as South32 also staff benefits specialist roles.
Can benefits administrators work remotely in Tucson?
Frequently, since much of benefits administration is systems and communication work. Many private employers offer hybrid or remote schedules, and brokerage roles often run virtual client meetings. Public-sector roles at Pima County and the City tend to be on-site or hybrid, especially during open enrollment when in-person sessions are common.
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