The median pay for Human Resources Specialists is $75,940 a year ($36.51/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 6.4% through 2035, with about 73,700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-1071
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Human Resources Specialist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $75,940a year, or $36.51/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $47KTop 10% $129K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.4%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 73,700939,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025939.7K
- Projected 2035999.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 939.7K Projected 2035 999.7K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school13.5%
- Some college4.8%
- Associate's7.2%
- Bachelor's46.6%
- Post-bacc certificate1.7%
- Master's24.9%
Highest education held by human resources specialists Segment Value High school 13.5% Some college 4.8% Associate's 7.2% Bachelor's 46.6% Post-bacc certificate 1.7% Master's 24.9%
Also advertised as: Corporate Recruiter, Employment Representative, HR Analyst (Human Resources Analyst), HR Coordinator (Human Resources Coordinator), HR Generalist (Human Resources Generalist), Human Resources Representative (HR Rep).
Pay
How much do human resources specialists make?
Human Resources Specialists earn a median of $75,940 a year ($36.51 an hour, or about $6,330 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $47,180 and the top 10% more than $128,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is District of Columbia, with a median of $110,970. See Human resources specialist salary in District of Columbia and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($122,280 average): salary in every city.
Every human resources specialist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$75,940
Middle half earn $58,610 to $99,380
- 10th
- $47,180
- 25th
- $58,610
- 75th
- $99,380
- 90th
- $128,720
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,180 |
| 25th | $58,610 |
| Median | $75,940 |
| 75th | $99,380 |
| 90th | $128,720 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $75,940
- Median hourly wage
- $36.51/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $81,990
- People employed
- 912,430
Versus all US occupations
At $75,940, Human Resources Specialists earn 49% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $24,960 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 6% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $128,720 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,180, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 51% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $110,970, and still leads at $100,973 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay human resources specialists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $110,970 | $100,973 | 6,910 |
| 2Massachusetts | $85,630 | $80,969 | 27,300 |
| 3Washington | $84,550 | $79,009 | 22,770 |
| 4New York | $84,380 | $78,187 | 54,610 |
| 5Maryland | $83,910 | $79,946 | 15,530 |
| 6California | $83,500 | $75,415 | 104,000 |
| 7Connecticut | $82,890 | $80,002 | 9,010 |
| 8Virginia | $82,090 | $81,194 | 28,540 |
| 9Colorado | $80,840 | $78,446 | 19,450 |
| 10New Jersey | $80,690 | $74,160 | 21,690 |
Job outlook
Is human resources specialist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Specialists | +6.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Human Resources Specialists to change 6.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 60,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 73,700 openings are projected each year, 7.8% of the 939,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for human resources specialists is expected to be strong over the projections decade as more of these workers are needed to help meet strategic organizational priorities. The HR-to-employee ratio is expected to be stable or increasing. Firms that specialize in human resources services are likely to experience stronger growth than in-house human resources, as some companies increasingly contract out those services.
AI exposure: very high
BLS places this occupation in its very high relative AI exposure category, among the occupations most exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a human resources specialist
Not a licensed occupation anywhere in the United States. BLS records a bachelor's degree as the typical entry point, with certification usually voluntary though some employers prefer or require it. The genuinely useful detail is how open the entry-level credentials are: SHRM states that candidates for the SHRM-CP are not required to hold an HR title and need no degree and no previous HR experience to apply, while HRCI's PHR does set an experience floor, one year with a master's, two with a bachelor's, or four with no degree.
The credential path, step by step
- Get the bachelor's degree and use an internship4 years
Human resources specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in human resources, business, communications or a related field. Working an internship during college gives relevant experience and a network in the industry.
- Get experience in the areas employers actually screen for
Employers may prefer candidates with experience in personnel recruitment, staff training and development, employee relations, and compensation and benefits. Candidates sometimes acquire it through college courses or volunteering, or by working first as human resources assistants or customer service representatives.
- Sit a certification when it helps, and know the eligibility differs sharply
SHRM sets no degree or experience prerequisite for the SHRM-CP, recommending only a basic working knowledge of HR practices and principles or a degree from an Academically Aligned program; the exam assesses HR competence at the operational level. HRCI's PHR requires one year of professional-level HR experience plus a master's degree or higher, two years plus a bachelor's, or four years with no degree.
- Understand what certification actually tests
BLS records that certification usually requires passing an exam covering HR knowledge and asking candidates to apply it to different situations, and that candidates typically must meet minimum education and experience requirements. Generalists in particular benefit, because the credential evidences competence across all HR areas rather than in one.
- Plan the step to manager
Specialists with a thorough knowledge of their organisation and its personnel regulations may advance to human resources manager, and BLS notes that taking on new responsibilities or completing voluntary certification programmes improves the chance of advancement.
- How long the training takes
4 years for a bachelor's degree
The degree is the only fixed part of the path. SHRM requires no previous HR experience for the SHRM-CP; HRCI requires one to four years of professional-level HR experience for the PHR depending on the degree you hold.
- Continuing education
Not required
None is required to work. HRCI credentials are valid for three years and are maintained by earning 60 recertification credits or by retaking the examination.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
No state licenses human resources specialists, and neither SHRM nor HRCI issues a licence. Both certifications are national and portable, and nothing about them changes when you move between states. What does change state by state is the employment law the role has to apply.
Who governs the credential
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Awards the SHRM-CP, an operational-level voluntary certification with no degree or previous HR experience requirement, and the senior SHRM-SCP.
- HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
Awards the aPHR, PHR and SPHR among others, voluntary certifications whose eligibility trades education against years of professional-level HR experience and which renew on a three-year cycle.
Credential detail for human resources specialists is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Human Resources Specialists · checked August 23, 2026
- SHRM: Certification Eligibility Criteria · checked August 23, 2026
- HRCI: PHR Certification · checked August 23, 2026
- HRCI: Compare HR Certifications · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Human resources specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as human resources specialists.
- Bachelor's Degree46.6%
- Master's Degree24.9%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)13.5%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree7.2%
- Some College Courses4.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 46.6% |
| Master's Degree | 24.9% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 13.5% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 7.2% |
| Some College Courses | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a human resources specialist do?
Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, and interview job applicants and place newly hired workers in jobs. They also may handle compensation and benefits, training, and employee relations.
Day-to-day tasks
- Maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Select qualified job applicants or refer them to managers, making hiring recommendations when appropriate.
- Review employment applications and job orders to match applicants with job requirements.
- Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
- Advise management on organizing, preparing, or implementing recruiting or retention programs.
- Inform job applicants of details such as duties and responsibilities, compensation, benefits, schedules, working conditions, or promotion opportunities.
- Provide management with information or training related to interviewing, performance appraisals, counseling techniques, or documentation of performance issues.
- Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Human resources specialists generally work in office settings. Some, particularly recruitment specialists, travel to attend job fairs, visit college campuses, and meet with applicants.
Most specialists work full time during regular business hours. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where human resources specialists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Professional, scientific, and technical services13%
- Employment services13%
- Healthcare and social assistance11%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals10%
- Manufacturing7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13% |
| Employment services | 13% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 11% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.3
- Learning Strategies3.0
- Monitoring3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4
- Service Orientation3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Instructing3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Negotiation3.0
- Time Management3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 |
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Data mining software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a human resources specialist?
Women make up 78.3% of human resources specialists, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation.
18.4% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 42.0 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 78.3%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 42.0All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 18.4%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 897,000Human resources workers · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of human resources specialists | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 78.3% | 47.1% |
| White | 78.3% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 13.4% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 5.6% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.2% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 18.4% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 3.7% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Human resources workers”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a human resources specialist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Human Resources Specialist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising5.7
- Conventional5.5
- Social3.8
- Investigative2.5
- Artistic1.4
- Realistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Human Resources Specialist
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
$50,610median a year
Most earn $37K to $68K
−6.2%Associate's - Management
- Office and Administrative Support
Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs
$54,210median a year
Most earn $39K to $75K
+1.6%High school - Office and Administrative Support
First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers
$69,500median a year
Most earn $46K to $105K
+0.1%High school - Business and Financial Operations
Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist
$78,210median a year
Most earn $49K to $129K
+6.0%Bachelor's - Life, Physical, and Social Science
More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with human resources specialists highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Compliance Officer$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within human resources specialist
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Human Resources Specialist appears on
Questions
Human Resources Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do human resources specialists make?
Human Resources Specialists earn a median of $75,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 49% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $36.51/hr. The middle half earn between $58,610 and $99,380. The top 10% earn $128,720 or more.
How much do human resources specialists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for human resources specialists is $36.51 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $75,940 annual median works out to about $6,330 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a human resources specialist?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of human resources specialists earn less than $47,180 a year and the bottom quarter less than $58,610 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do human resources specialists make $100k?
A minority do. $100,000 sits between the 75th percentile ($99,380) and the 90th ($128,720), so roughly 10% to 25% of human resources specialists earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). One state has a median above $100,000: District of Columbia ($110,970).
Which states pay human resources specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Human Resources Specialists are District of Columbia ($110,970), Massachusetts ($85,630), Washington ($84,550) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of human resources specialist earns the most?
BLS does not split human resources specialists' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $128,720, against a median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are District of Columbia ($110,970), Massachusetts ($85,630), Washington ($84,550). BLS also counts 3 specialty careers inside this occupation (executive recruiter, people analytics specialist, workplace investigator), which share its federal pay figures.
Do you need a degree to become a human resources specialist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Human Resources Specialists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 46.6% hold bachelor's degree.
Is human resources specialist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.4% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 73,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a human resources specialist do?
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, and interview job applicants and place newly hired workers in jobs. A core O*NET task: maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Analytical or scientific software, Application server software.
Do human resources specialists work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 28% of human resources specialists usually work more than 40 hours a week, 70% work exactly 40 and 2% work fewer. 99% say their schedule is regular and 1% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a human resources specialist?
O*NET scores Human Resources Specialists highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
How long does it take to become a human resources specialist?
4 years for a bachelor's degree. The degree is the only fixed part of the path. SHRM requires no previous HR experience for the SHRM-CP; HRCI requires one to four years of professional-level HR experience for the PHR depending on the degree you hold.
Do you need a license to work as a human resources specialist?
Not a state license. No state licenses human resources specialists, and neither SHRM nor HRCI issues a licence. Both certifications are national and portable, and nothing about them changes when you move between states. What does change state by state is the employment law the role has to apply.
What percentage of human resources specialists are women?
Women make up 78.3% of human resources specialists, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation. 18.4% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 42.0 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Human resources workers".