He enjoyed a long career in the bass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was a professor at Northwestern University.

He played for a short while as co-principal, sharing the position with fellow Torello pupil Roger Scott,[1] before being appointed principal bass of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Rafael Kubelik in 1949.

Kubelik's presence in Chicago was not a long one, and Benfield was eventually fired, forcing him to audition for the orchestra.

Some prominent bassists who studied with Warren include Harold Robinson, Rufus Reid and Jeff Bradetich.

Warren Benfield wrote, with the help of James Seay Dean Jr., The Art of Double Bass Playing- a text which outlines many important qualities required of the double bassist in ensemble and solo playing as well as showing, if not expertise, appreciation for players in Jazz and contemporary classical fields.