Human Resources Manager salary in California
Human Resources Managers in California earn a median of $170,080 a year ($81.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 27,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $96,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $307,600 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $149,280. California ranks 5th of 51 states for human resources managers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.5 human resources managers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $191,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources managers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,430 | $46.36 |
| 25th percentile | $129,210 | $62.12 |
| Median | $170,080 | $81.77 |
| 75th percentile | $224,990 | $108.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $307,600 | $147.89 |
| Average (mean) | $191,920 | $92.27 |
Half of human resources managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,173.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,086.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,541.54 |
| Weekly | $3,270.77 |
| Hourly | $81.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Manager salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $220,460 | 2,800 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $209,340 | 4,960 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $168,400 | 9,070 |
| Napa, CA | $167,490 | 120 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $165,160 | 210 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $164,570 | 130 |
| Vallejo, CA | $163,560 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,190 | 2,300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $162,230 | 380 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $161,550 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $155,360 | 1,300 |
| Modesto, CA | $153,630 | 150 |
| Merced, CA | $153,210 | 70 |
| Salinas, CA | $150,390 | 150 |
| Redding, CA | $143,330 | 50 |
| Yuba City, CA | $143,210 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $143,180 | 400 |
| Visalia, CA | $142,320 | 120 |
| Chico, CA | $139,830 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $139,010 | 1,630 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $138,130 | 240 |
| El Centro, CA | $137,930 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $136,410 | 260 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $129,710 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for human resources managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184,350 |
| Massachusetts | $181,780 |
| New York | $176,650 |
| New Jersey | $172,440 |
| California | $170,080 |
| Rhode Island | $167,110 |
| Colorado | $166,400 |
| Virginia | $165,980 |
| Connecticut | $165,930 |
| Washington | $165,530 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $218,290 | $104.95 |
| Financial Manager | $180,770 | $86.91 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $108,890 | $52.35 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $123,780 | $59.51 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Facilities Manager | $118,620 | $57.03 |
| Purchasing Manager | $159,830 | $76.84 |
| Training and Development Managers | $156,260 | $75.13 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $166,730 | $80.16 |
| General and Operations Managers | $124,390 | $59.81 |
| Sales Manager | $134,910 | $64.86 |
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Marketing Manager | $193,620 | $93.09 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-3121. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources manager make in California?
The median salary for human resources managers in California is $170,080 a year, or $81.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $96,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $307,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources managers make in California?
The top 10% of human resources managers in California earn at least $307,600 a year. The top 25% earn $224,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources managers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $96,430 a year, and a quarter of human resources managers earn $129,210 or less.
How many human resources managers work in California?
About 27,450 human resources managers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.