Human Resources Specialist salary in Wausau, WI
Human Resources Specialists in the Wausau, WI metro area earn a median of $66,750 a year ($32.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,800 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $75,940. Pay here is 5% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $70,540. There are 4.7 human resources specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $70,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in Wausau, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,120 | $23.14 |
| 25th percentile | $53,880 | $25.91 |
| Median | $66,750 | $32.09 |
| 75th percentile | $81,410 | $39.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,800 | $47.50 |
| Average (mean) | $70,790 | $34.03 |
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 | $5,562.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,781.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,567.31 |
| Weekly | $1,283.65 |
| Hourly | $32.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,330 | 12,660 |
| Madison, WI | $76,660 | 2,810 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $74,970 | 5,050 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $73,410 | 290 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $72,610 | 270 |
| Green Bay, WI | $72,550 | 900 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $68,940 | 530 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $67,200 | 400 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $67,040 | 560 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $65,400 | 390 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $64,900 | 390 |
| Kenosha, WI | $64,080 | 470 |
| Appleton, WI | $63,650 | 720 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $63,270 | 500 |
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 |
See Human Resources Specialist pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wausau, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management Specialist | $88,940 | $42.76 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $65,060 | $31.28 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $68,490 | $32.93 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $80,430 | $38.67 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $68,830 | $33.09 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $65,160 | $31.33 |
| Cost Estimator | $71,850 | $34.54 |
| Management Analyst | $92,370 | $44.41 |
| Logistician | $61,030 | $29.34 |
| Compliance Officer | $73,320 | $35.25 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $80,070 | $38.50 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $74,210 | $35.68 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,680 | $37.35 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Wausau, WI
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 Wausau, WI?
The median salary for human resources specialists in the Wausau, WI metro area is $66,750 a year, or $32.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in Wausau, WI?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in the Wausau, WI metro area earn at least $98,800 a year. The top 25% earn $81,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in Wausau, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,120 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $53,880 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in Wausau, WI?
About 330 human resources specialists are employed in the Wausau, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.