Human Resources Specialist salary in the U.S.
Human Resources Specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $75,940 a year ($36.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 912,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,720 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $81,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,180 | $22.69 |
| 25th percentile | $58,610 | $28.18 |
| Median | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| 75th percentile | $99,380 | $47.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,720 | $61.89 |
| Average (mean) | $81,990 | $39.42 |
Half of human resources specialists 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 | $6,328.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,164.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,920.77 |
| Weekly | $1,460.38 |
| Hourly | $36.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Specialist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 | 6,910 |
| Massachusetts | $85,630 | 27,300 |
| Washington | $84,550 | 22,770 |
| New York | $84,380 | 54,610 |
| Maryland | $83,910 | 15,530 |
| California | $83,500 | 104,000 |
| Connecticut | $82,890 | 9,010 |
| Virginia | $82,090 | 28,540 |
| Colorado | $80,840 | 19,450 |
| New Jersey | $80,690 | 21,690 |
| Minnesota | $78,760 | 17,240 |
| Oregon | $78,060 | 10,620 |
| Vermont | $77,800 | 1,270 |
| Delaware | $77,700 | 2,720 |
| Rhode Island | $77,560 | 3,320 |
| Alaska | $76,990 | 1,420 |
| Illinois | $76,820 | 35,430 |
| North Dakota | $75,630 | 1,710 |
| Hawaii | $73,750 | 2,570 |
| North Carolina | $73,070 | 31,140 |
| Utah | $71,750 | 9,900 |
| Maine | $71,630 | 3,020 |
| Nevada | $71,610 | 6,520 |
| Arizona | $71,390 | 20,230 |
| Kansas | $70,870 | 7,560 |
| New Hampshire | $70,840 | 4,270 |
| Georgia | $70,570 | 32,110 |
| Wisconsin | $70,540 | 17,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,450 | 36,960 |
| Ohio | $70,180 | 33,500 |
| Michigan | $69,520 | 25,520 |
| Kentucky | $69,010 | 10,900 |
| Texas | $68,920 | 84,930 |
| New Mexico | $68,050 | 4,090 |
| South Dakota | $67,590 | 1,340 |
| Tennessee | $67,370 | 21,460 |
| Missouri | $66,990 | 17,650 |
| Wyoming | $66,970 | 1,000 |
| West Virginia | $66,860 | 3,130 |
| Iowa | $66,710 | 7,930 |
| Florida | $66,410 | 62,730 |
| Indiana | $65,600 | 17,110 |
| South Carolina | $65,370 | 13,720 |
| Idaho | $64,990 | 3,930 |
| Alabama | $64,940 | 11,080 |
| Montana | $63,790 | 2,340 |
| Nebraska | $61,930 | 7,220 |
| Oklahoma | $61,630 | 9,370 |
| Louisiana | $61,300 | 7,240 |
| Mississippi | $60,300 | 4,850 |
| Virgin Islands | $60,210 | 120 |
| Guam | $59,900 | 380 |
| Arkansas | $55,010 | 6,230 |
| Puerto Rico | $40,900 | 4,270 |
Best-paying metro areas for human resources specialists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $112,140 | 7,970 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $103,140 | 16,420 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $100,830 | 24,450 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $98,170 | 330 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $94,520 | 440 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92,770 | 14,120 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $90,290 | 710 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $90,270 | 21,770 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $89,780 | 52,370 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $86,700 | 1,410 |
| Boulder, CO | $86,200 | 1,480 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $85,550 | 2,350 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $84,690 | 450 |
| Napa, CA | $84,400 | 310 |
| Rochester, MN | $83,810 | 500 |
Metro areas with the most human resources specialists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 52,370 | $89,780 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 36,850 | $80,220 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 29,190 | $70,700 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 26,470 | $78,210 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 24,450 | $100,830 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 21,770 | $90,270 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 20,920 | $75,410 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 18,320 | $72,550 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 18,080 | $67,580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 16,420 | $103,140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 16,000 | $76,700 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 15,430 | $74,640 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 14,120 | $92,770 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 12,660 | $80,330 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 12,520 | $82,550 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
| Project Management Specialist | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Management Analyst | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $69,280 | $33.31 |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Logistician | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $61,160 | $29.41 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $95,420 | $45.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1071. 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 specialist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for human resources specialists in the U.S. is $75,940 a year, or $36.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in the U.S. earn at least $128,720 a year. The top 25% earn $99,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,180 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $58,610 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in the U.S.?
About 912,430 human resources specialists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.