Human Resources Specialist salary in California
Human Resources Specialists in California earn a median of $83,500 a year ($40.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 104,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $151,410 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $75,940. California ranks 6th of 51 states for human resources specialists pay. There are 5.7 human resources specialists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $95,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,770 | $25.37 |
| 25th percentile | $66,060 | $31.76 |
| Median | $83,500 | $40.14 |
| 75th percentile | $117,430 | $56.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $151,410 | $72.79 |
| Average (mean) | $95,180 | $45.76 |
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 | $6,958.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,479.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,211.54 |
| Weekly | $1,605.77 |
| Hourly | $40.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Specialist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $112,140 | 7,970 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $103,140 | 16,420 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $84,690 | 450 |
| Napa, CA | $84,400 | 310 |
| Vallejo, CA | $83,160 | 650 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $81,540 | 920 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $81,300 | 9,110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $80,950 | 5,360 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,560 | 1,710 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $80,340 | 870 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,220 | 36,850 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,100 | 630 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $78,020 | 610 |
| Modesto, CA | $77,070 | 730 |
| Merced, CA | $76,820 | 280 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,700 | 1,240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,570 | 7,210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $76,560 | 1,160 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $76,250 | 110 |
| Yuba City, CA | $74,680 | 180 |
| Fresno, CA | $74,170 | 1,770 |
| Visalia, CA | $74,050 | 580 |
| Chico, CA | $73,910 | 310 |
| El Centro, CA | $71,970 | 220 |
| Redding, CA | $70,830 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for human resources specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 |
| Massachusetts | $85,630 |
| Washington | $84,550 |
| New York | $84,380 |
| Maryland | $83,910 |
| California | $83,500 |
| Connecticut | $82,890 |
| Virginia | $82,090 |
| Colorado | $80,840 |
| New Jersey | $80,690 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
| Management Analyst | $101,460 | $48.78 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $94,700 | $45.53 |
| Project Management Specialist | $120,910 | $58.13 |
| Compliance Officer | $96,980 | $46.63 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $82,720 | $39.77 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $75,790 | $36.44 |
| Logistician | $92,890 | $44.66 |
| Cost Estimator | $85,460 | $41.09 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $91,790 | $44.13 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $71,120 | $34.19 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $91,410 | $43.95 |
| Fundraiser | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $105,810 | $50.87 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for human resources specialists in California is $83,500 a year, or $40.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $151,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in California?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in California earn at least $151,410 a year. The top 25% earn $117,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,770 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $66,060 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in California?
About 104,000 human resources specialists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.