Labor Relations Specialist salary in the U.S.
Labor Relations Specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $95,420 a year ($45.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 64,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,180 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $98,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for labor relations specialists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,490 | $24.27 |
| 25th percentile | $71,920 | $34.58 |
| Median | $95,420 | $45.87 |
| 75th percentile | $123,420 | $59.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,180 | $75.09 |
| Average (mean) | $98,720 | $47.46 |
Half of labor relations 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 | $7,951.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,975.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,670 |
| Weekly | $1,835 |
| Hourly | $45.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Labor Relations Specialist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $118,370 | 3,700 |
| District of Columbia | $115,600 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $111,260 | 1,660 |
| California | $105,810 | 8,830 |
| Illinois | $104,180 | 3,670 |
| Washington | $104,100 | 2,760 |
| North Dakota | $101,220 | 90 |
| Minnesota | $100,760 | 1,710 |
| New York | $100,500 | 6,860 |
| Virginia | $98,730 | 990 |
| Delaware | $97,390 | 280 |
| Arizona | $97,070 | 790 |
| Maine | $96,680 | 210 |
| Wisconsin | $95,750 | 1,690 |
| Maryland | $94,030 | 890 |
| Missouri | $93,840 | 1,190 |
| Idaho | $93,110 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,320 | 3,470 |
| Rhode Island | $88,030 | 410 |
| West Virginia | $88,020 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $87,310 | 60 |
| Colorado | $87,150 | 470 |
| North Carolina | $86,270 | 690 |
| Vermont | $85,870 | 120 |
| New Hampshire | $84,780 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $83,770 | 120 |
| Kansas | $82,750 | 370 |
| Nebraska | $81,910 | 270 |
| Florida | $81,700 | 1,970 |
| Georgia | $81,480 | 920 |
| Oregon | $80,490 | 1,210 |
| Ohio | $80,150 | 4,100 |
| Texas | $79,640 | 2,590 |
| Connecticut | $79,620 | 1,240 |
| Mississippi | $79,360 | 200 |
| Iowa | $79,140 | 610 |
| Louisiana | $78,110 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $78,050 | 340 |
| Alaska | $77,870 | 380 |
| Hawaii | $77,310 | 510 |
| Nevada | $77,240 | 610 |
| Indiana | $77,190 | 2,600 |
| Tennessee | $76,930 | 560 |
| Michigan | $73,760 | 2,430 |
| Kentucky | $73,550 | 640 |
| Montana | $70,360 | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $62,400 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $62,070 | 180 |
| Utah | $61,190 | 250 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,830 | 120 |
| South Dakota | $57,900 | 100 |
| Alabama | $48,120 | 590 |
Best-paying metro areas for labor relations specialists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $133,270 | 510 |
| Vallejo, CA | $131,680 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $128,320 | 40 |
| Bellingham, WA | $126,160 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $124,400 | 2,000 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $119,200 | 1,990 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $118,520 | 1,280 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $115,940 | 160 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $112,740 | 100 |
| Worcester, MA | $112,230 | 140 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $108,760 | 60 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $107,470 | 6,930 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $106,530 | 380 |
| Visalia, CA | $105,850 | 40 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $105,250 | 510 |
Metro areas with the most labor relations specialists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 6,930 | $107,470 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,300 | $102,980 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,090 | $103,570 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,000 | $124,400 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,990 | $119,200 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,730 | $99,840 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,300 | $101,270 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,280 | $118,520 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,250 | $73,760 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 930 | $95,550 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 930 | $103,790 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 910 | $78,900 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 890 | $93,590 |
| Cleveland, OH | 800 | $78,160 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 790 | $105,210 |
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 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| 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 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1075. 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 labor relations specialist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for labor relations specialists in the U.S. is $95,420 a year, or $45.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid labor relations specialists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of labor relations specialists in the U.S. earn at least $156,180 a year. The top 25% earn $123,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for labor relations specialists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,490 a year, and a quarter of labor relations specialists earn $71,920 or less.
How many labor relations specialists work in the U.S.?
About 64,810 labor relations specialists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.