Human Resources Specialist salary in Virginia
Human Resources Specialists in Virginia earn a median of $82,090 a year ($39.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 28,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,660 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $75,940. Virginia ranks 8th of 51 states for human resources specialists pay. There are 6.9 human resources specialists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $89,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,530 | $23.33 |
| 25th percentile | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Median | $82,090 | $39.47 |
| 75th percentile | $108,970 | $52.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,660 | $65.70 |
| Average (mean) | $89,620 | $43.09 |
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 | $6,840.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,420.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,157.31 |
| Weekly | $1,578.65 |
| Hourly | $39.47 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $100,830 | 24,450 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $82,430 | 610 |
| Richmond, VA | $79,340 | 4,540 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $79,040 | 460 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $76,240 | 4,290 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $69,880 | 360 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $69,490 | 430 |
| Roanoke, VA | $67,450 | 780 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $65,540 | 220 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $64,620 | 530 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $62,310 | 240 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Management Analyst | $117,580 | $56.53 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $85,200 | $40.96 |
| Project Management Specialist | $120,840 | $58.10 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $76,980 | $37.01 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $89,210 | $42.89 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| Compliance Officer | $80,380 | $38.65 |
| Logistician | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $74,240 | $35.69 |
| Cost Estimator | $80,530 | $38.72 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $60,930 | $29.29 |
| Fundraiser | $72,610 | $34.91 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $81,190 | $39.03 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $98,730 | $47.47 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for human resources specialists in Virginia is $82,090 a year, or $39.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in Virginia earn at least $136,660 a year. The top 25% earn $108,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,530 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $62,070 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in Virginia?
About 28,540 human resources specialists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.