Salary Range

• The median salary for a retirement plan administrator is about $47,980 as of February 2011, as determined by Salary.com. The middle 50 percent of those on the earnings scale are making $36,930 to $52,300 per year. The bottom 10 percent have annual salaries below $26,880, and the top 10 percent earn more than $56,240 per year.
  
  

Geography

• Retirement plan administrator salaries vary by location. These administrators in Bismarck, North Dakota, for instance, have a median annual pay rate of about $44,260, while those in Jersey City, New Jersey, make a median salary of $56,710 per year. Retirement plan administrators in Macon, Georgia, have a yearly median salary of $45,200; in Redding, California, $46,890; in Cleveland, Ohio, $47,870; in St. Louis, Missouri, $48,280; in Spokane, Washington, $48,890; in Minneapolis, Minnesota, $51,740; in Washington, D.C., $52,260; and in Boston, Massachusetts, $54,030.
  
  

Advancement

• Individuals with at least five years of experience have the potential to become a senior retirement administrator for a more lucrative pay rate. The median annual salary for these professionals is $61,550 in February 2011, and the middle 50 percent are making $57,090 to $66,240 per year. The top 10 percent have salaries of $70,515 and higher, and only the bottom 10 percent earn less than $53,040 per year.
  
  

Job Openings

• The job search website Indeed.com lists numerous job openings for retirement plan administrators and pension administrators throughout the country in February 2011. Most of these available positions are with banks and other financial firms. Posted pay rates range from about $13 to $17 per hour, translating to $27,000 to $35,360 per year. Employers typically require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field or experience in benefit administration or payroll.