393 metro areas

Human Resources Specialist Salary by City (2026)

Human resources specialists earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $122,280 a year, against $81,990 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($110,740 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $81,990BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $122,280San Jose, CA
Best after cost of living: $110,740San Jose, CA
Metro areas: 393With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for human resources specialists

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Jose, CA$122,280
San Francisco, CA$113,530
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$105,580
Lexington Park, MD$104,230
Boulder, CO$99,420
Seattle, WA$99,220
New York, NY-NJ$98,090
Boston, MA-NH$96,840
Bridgeport, CT$96,660
Bremerton, WA$95,830

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for human resources specialists
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$122,280
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$113,530
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$105,580
Lexington Park, MD	$104,230
Boulder, CO	$99,420
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$99,220
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$98,090
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$96,840
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$96,660
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$95,830

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

San Jose, CA$122,280 nominal$110,740
Parkersburg, WV$93,040 nominal$106,860
Lexington Park, MD$104,230 nominal$103,440
San Francisco, CA$113,530 nominal$98,200
Rochester, MN$88,860 nominal$97,840
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$105,580 nominal$96,970
Boulder, CO$99,420 nominal$94,500
Davenport, IA-IL$83,680 nominal$93,940
Sierra Vista, AZ$83,760 nominal$93,860
Elizabethtown, KY$84,660 nominal$93,470

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for human resources specialists
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$110,740
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV	$106,860
Lexington Park, MD	$103,440
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$98,200
Rochester, MN	$97,840
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$96,970
Boulder, CO	$94,500
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$93,940
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	$93,860
Elizabethtown, KY	$93,470

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Human Resources Specialist salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Human Resources Specialist pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Jose, CA	$122,280	$74,710	$145,720	$110,740
2	San Francisco, CA	$113,530	$69,280	$135,320	$98,200
3	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$105,580	$65,890	$125,130	$96,970
4	Lexington Park, MD	$104,230	$63,860	$124,110	$103,440
5	Boulder, CO	$99,420	$59,920	$118,870	$94,500
6	Seattle, WA	$99,220	$63,750	$116,690	$89,280
7	New York, NY-NJ	$98,090	$61,800	$115,980	$87,140
8	Boston, MA-NH	$96,840	$61,690	$114,170	$89,450
9	Bridgeport, CT	$96,660	$59,880	$114,800	$90,450
10	Bremerton, WA	$95,830	$64,380	$111,320	$90,740
11	Santa Cruz, CA	$93,180	$63,040	$108,040	$84,790
12	Parkersburg, WV	$93,040	$60,010	$109,320	$106,860
13	Vallejo, CA	$92,480	$64,480	$106,270	$85,250
14	Santa Maria, CA	$91,870	$60,030	$107,560	$84,440
15	San Diego, CA	$91,770	$58,280	$108,240	$82,020
16	Napa, CA	$91,250	$60,070	$106,620	$81,070
17	Oxnard, CA	$90,580	$57,470	$106,890	$81,950
18	Denver, CO	$90,400	$57,490	$106,600	$85,460
19	Baltimore, MD	$89,900	$57,570	$105,810	$86,040
20	Los Angeles, CA	$89,770	$56,870	$106,000	$79,050
21	Sacramento, CA	$89,440	$57,350	$105,250	$83,850
22	Kennewick, WA	$89,110	$58,140	$104,370	$89,040
23	Hartford, CT	$89,090	$56,260	$105,250	$86,710
24	Rochester, MN	$88,860	$61,610	$102,270	$97,840
25	New Haven, CT	$88,520	$56,560	$104,270	$84,660
26	Olympia, WA	$88,500	$63,730	$100,690	$85,370
27	Portland, OR-WA	$88,280	$58,590	$102,900	$83,740
28	Salinas, CA	$88,280	$57,240	$103,560	$80,960
29	Durham, NC	$88,250	$56,200	$104,060	$90,450
30	Santa Rosa, CA	$87,650	$56,970	$102,770	$81,320
31	Amherst Town, MA	$87,070	$57,160	$101,800	$86,860
32	Trenton, NJ	$86,760	$57,640	$101,110	$84,090
33	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$86,670	$56,410	$101,570	$82,680
34	Walla Walla, WA	$86,380	$60,880	$98,950	$87,680
35	Waterbury, CT	$86,170	$55,390	$101,340	$86,360
36	Worcester, MA	$86,170	$55,810	$101,130	$84,050
37	San Luis Obispo, CA	$85,650	$62,770	$96,910	$78,870
38	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$85,610	$51,710	$102,320	$90,910
39	Barnstable Town, MA	$85,590	$55,950	$100,190	$87,030
40	Charlottesville, VA	$85,530	$54,890	$100,610	$86,270
41	Elizabethtown, KY	$84,660	$59,030	$97,280	$93,470
42	Winchester, VA-WV	$84,610	$52,750	$100,300	$87,720
43	Kiryas Joel, NY	$84,470	$55,020	$98,990	$77,200
44	Charlotte, NC-SC	$84,390	$51,830	$100,420	$86,690
45	Colorado Springs, CO	$84,320	$54,080	$99,200	$83,730
46	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$84,300	$53,410	$99,510	$82,200
47	Ithaca, NY	$84,260	$57,550	$97,430	$81,550
48	Mount Vernon, WA	$84,220	$58,430	$96,930	$82,210
49	Huntsville, AL	$84,050	$51,770	$99,960	$90,310
50	Bellingham, WA	$83,780	$57,820	$96,570	$81,080
51	Sierra Vista, AZ	$83,760	$52,080	$99,360	$93,860
52	Davenport, IA-IL	$83,680	$53,930	$98,320	$93,940
53	Fort Collins, CO	$83,640	$52,890	$98,760	$82,710
54	Chicago, IL-IN	$83,180	$54,200	$97,470	$80,290
55	Richmond, VA	$83,120	$52,290	$98,300	$84,940
56	Stockton, CA	$82,910	$54,480	$96,930	$78,900
57	Syracuse, NY	$82,700	$55,680	$96,010	$86,380
58	Salem, OR	$82,560	$57,080	$95,120	$79,650
59	Burlington, VT	$82,530	$60,720	$93,270	$81,750
60	Albany, NY	$82,280	$55,560	$95,450	$82,640
61	Springfield, MA	$82,160	$55,430	$95,330	$85,530
62	Norwich, CT	$82,060	$53,890	$95,930	$81,700
63	Reno, NV	$82,060	$54,020	$95,870	$81,240
64	Merced, CA	$81,970	$55,200	$95,160	$83,410
65	Providence, RI-MA	$81,950	$55,160	$95,140	$80,520
66	Riverside, CA	$81,930	$52,890	$96,220	$76,970
67	Bend, OR	$81,910	$54,680	$95,330	$79,060
68	Fairbanks, AK	$81,810	$60,150	$92,480	$79,270
69	Ann Arbor, MI	$81,740	$52,790	$96,010	$81,030
70	Bakersfield, CA	$81,720	$52,730	$96,010	$81,000
71	Midland, TX	$81,660	$52,060	$96,240	$85,260
72	Rochester, NY	$81,410	$54,970	$94,430	$83,900
73	Atlanta, GA	$81,310	$50,840	$96,320	$81,260
74	Wenatchee, WA	$81,140	$55,620	$93,700	$78,130
75	Warner Robins, GA	$81,060	$47,990	$97,360	$86,430
76	Topeka, KS	$81,040	$52,730	$94,970	$91,240
77	Austin, TX	$80,830	$52,250	$94,930	$82,420
78	Raleigh, NC	$80,830	$51,880	$95,080	$82,350
79	Binghamton, NY	$80,660	$52,710	$94,430	$86,860
80	Crestview, FL	$80,560	$49,030	$96,080	$83,030
81	Greeley, CO	$80,560	$50,230	$95,490	$80,420
82	Modesto, CA	$80,480	$53,310	$93,850	$77,300
83	Manchester, NH	$80,370	$52,670	$94,020	$76,070
84	Pittsfield, MA	$80,310	$54,250	$93,160	$84,440
85	Springfield, IL	$80,200	$57,010	$91,640	$86,470
86	Hanford, CA	$80,160	$55,700	$92,210	$78,890
87	Portland, ME	$80,120	$54,160	$92,910	$78,660
88	Fayetteville, NC	$80,100	$46,950	$96,430	$87,090
89	Atlantic City, NJ	$80,080	$55,520	$92,190	$81,010
90	Hinesville, GA	$80,060	$52,960	$93,410	$85,230
91	Fargo, ND-MN	$79,930	$53,890	$92,770	$87,960
92	Salt Lake City, UT	$79,930	$52,080	$93,640	$79,240
93	York, PA	$79,930	$51,040	$94,180	$83,260
94	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$79,850	$51,110	$94,020	$81,530
95	Columbus, OH	$79,830	$50,730	$94,180	$83,620
96	Manhattan, KS	$79,810	$52,670	$93,180	$88,520
97	Asheville, NC	$79,770	$49,070	$94,890	$82,660
98	St. Cloud, MN	$79,770	$54,790	$92,080	$91,030
99	Spokane, WA	$79,710	$53,980	$92,390	$79,440
100	Cheyenne, WY	$79,560	$50,040	$94,080	$82,450
101	Anchorage, AK	$79,460	$52,190	$92,890	$75,370
102	Kansas City, MO-KS	$79,410	$51,480	$93,160	$85,810
103	Buffalo, NY	$79,190	$52,870	$92,140	$82,620
104	Detroit, MI	$79,160	$51,440	$92,830	$78,920
105	Albuquerque, NM	$79,000	$52,210	$92,210	$82,680
106	Bismarck, ND	$78,940	$53,910	$91,270	$86,720
107	Visalia, CA	$78,850	$52,370	$91,890	$78,990
108	Yuba City, CA	$78,830	$53,770	$91,170	$75,630
109	Las Vegas, NV	$78,810	$50,210	$92,890	$78,640
110	Longview, WA	$78,750	$51,730	$92,060	$80,730
111	Kingston, NY	$78,600	$52,710	$91,350	$78,050
112	Madison, WI	$78,560	$55,100	$90,110	$80,750
113	Rapid City, SD	$78,560	$54,580	$90,380	$88,110
114	Minot, ND	$78,520	$51,900	$91,620	$90,220
115	Urban Honolulu, HI	$78,500	$52,920	$91,080	$70,750
116	Fresno, CA	$78,480	$52,170	$91,460	$76,820
117	Charleston, SC	$78,400	$50,540	$92,100	$77,650
118	Chico, CA	$78,400	$52,290	$91,250	$77,470
119	Peoria, IL	$78,350	$51,130	$91,770	$85,880
120	Phoenix, AZ	$78,350	$51,730	$91,460	$75,840
121	Des Moines, IA	$78,330	$49,630	$92,460	$85,420
122	Lebanon, PA	$78,270	$53,230	$90,600	$83,970
123	Glens Falls, NY	$78,020	$49,520	$92,060	$82,240
124	Albany, OR	$78,000	$52,670	$90,480	$76,400
125	Provo, UT	$78,000	$48,780	$92,390	$79,400
126	Bloomington, IL	$77,960	$52,620	$90,460	$83,350
127	Burlington, NC	$77,960	$49,730	$91,850	$83,650
128	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$77,850	$49,150	$92,000	$81,630
129	Carson City, NV	$77,560	$55,450	$88,440	$79,040
130	San Antonio, TX	$77,500	$49,440	$91,310	$81,820
131	Redding, CA	$77,480	$51,540	$90,270	$76,950
132	Akron, OH	$77,250	$48,300	$91,520	$82,740
133	St. Louis, MO-IL	$77,170	$49,550	$90,790	$81,160
134	Milwaukee, WI	$77,150	$52,480	$89,290	$79,590
135	Houston, TX	$77,130	$49,770	$90,580	$78,200
136	Utica, NY	$77,110	$51,250	$89,840	$83,200
137	Helena, MT	$76,920	$53,270	$88,570	$80,400
138	Watertown, NY	$76,710	$51,480	$89,130	$87,480
139	Dayton, OH	$76,630	$48,690	$90,400	$82,670
140	Iowa City, IA	$76,500	$52,640	$88,250	$83,600
141	Monroe, MI	$76,360	$49,090	$89,790	$81,680
142	Corvallis, OR	$76,340	$50,520	$89,040	$73,390
143	Vineland, NJ	$76,340	$53,660	$87,510	$79,550
144	Naples, FL	$76,230	$48,690	$89,790	$73,870
145	Palm Bay, FL	$76,190	$49,250	$89,460	$76,190
146	North Port, FL	$76,090	$48,400	$89,710	$74,290
147	Winston, NC	$76,090	$48,480	$89,670	$82,670
148	Jacksonville, FL	$76,040	$48,050	$89,860	$76,430
149	Greenville, SC	$76,000	$47,670	$89,960	$81,490
150	Nashville, TN	$75,960	$50,900	$88,320	$78,850
151	Cleveland, OH	$75,940	$48,820	$89,290	$80,850
152	El Centro, CA	$75,860	$50,110	$88,520	$79,710
153	Elmira, NY	$75,820	$51,880	$87,610	$80,320
154	Billings, MT	$75,770	$49,500	$88,710	$81,010
155	Yakima, WA	$75,770	$53,730	$86,630	$79,300
156	Sumter, SC	$75,710	$45,820	$90,440	$86,010
157	Lansing, MI	$75,650	$52,310	$87,150	$79,640
158	Ogden, UT	$75,650	$48,320	$89,130	$75,390
159	Medford, OR	$75,550	$52,210	$87,030	$74,480
160	Wildwood, FL	$75,460	$48,320	$88,840	$88,340
161	Gulfport, MS	$75,440	$46,070	$89,920	$83,820
162	Augusta, GA-SC	$75,380	$46,820	$89,460	$82,020
163	Indianapolis, IN	$75,380	$48,340	$88,710	$78,770
164	Mankato, MN	$75,360	$54,100	$85,840	$82,850
165	Allentown, PA-NJ	$75,320	$49,730	$87,920	$75,340
166	Kahului, HI	$75,280	$52,330	$86,590	$68,820
167	Sheboygan, WI	$75,280	$52,190	$86,650	$80,070
168	Ames, IA	$75,210	$52,210	$86,530	$84,670
169	Dallas, TX	$75,210	$46,200	$89,520	$72,960
170	Killeen, TX	$75,150	$47,690	$88,670	$82,460
171	Miami, FL	$75,150	$47,920	$88,570	$65,830
172	Blacksburg, VA	$75,130	$50,320	$87,360	$81,040
173	Lynchburg, VA	$75,110	$48,820	$88,070	$84,050
174	Brunswick, GA	$75,050	$43,100	$90,790	$85,570
175	Chambersburg, PA	$75,030	$50,380	$87,170	$79,280
176	Pueblo, CO	$75,030	$48,550	$88,090	$81,770
177	Hilton Head Island, SC	$74,880	$50,630	$86,820	$76,390
178	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$74,780	$51,600	$86,170	$82,510
179	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$74,710	$49,110	$87,320	$80,270
180	Birmingham, AL	$74,630	$48,360	$87,590	$81,430
181	Niles, MI	$74,630	$49,460	$87,030	$80,790
182	Knoxville, TN	$74,570	$50,040	$86,630	$80,560
183	Reading, PA	$74,440	$49,480	$86,740	$76,690
184	Spartanburg, SC	$74,440	$47,050	$87,940	$81,760
185	Tampa, FL	$74,380	$45,930	$88,400	$73,720
186	Columbia, SC	$74,360	$48,110	$87,300	$79,390
187	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$74,340	$48,480	$87,070	$80,650
188	Roanoke, VA	$74,210	$47,900	$87,170	$79,270
189	Green Bay, WI	$74,150	$50,860	$85,610	$79,660
190	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$74,050	$51,880	$84,950	$85,450
191	Midland, MI	$74,030	$50,770	$85,490	$80,540
192	Bozeman, MT	$73,990	$52,770	$84,430	$72,180
193	Santa Fe, NM	$73,900	$54,580	$83,430	$74,820
194	Racine, WI	$73,880	$49,980	$85,630	$76,990
195	Fond du Lac, WI	$73,800	$50,790	$85,130	$80,530
196	Orlando, FL	$73,760	$46,280	$87,280	$72,730
197	Eugene, OR	$73,740	$51,670	$84,610	$72,600
198	Goldsboro, NC	$73,630	$47,740	$86,380	$83,230
199	Wichita, KS	$73,610	$47,590	$86,440	$82,760
200	Lexington, KY	$73,530	$49,480	$85,380	$79,160
201	Oshkosh, WI	$73,530	$51,440	$84,430	$79,120
202	Salisbury, MD	$73,530	$51,710	$84,260	$76,900
203	Champaign, IL	$73,510	$52,100	$84,030	$79,300
204	Grand Junction, CO	$73,440	$47,400	$86,280	$76,920
205	Staunton, VA	$73,300	$48,280	$85,610	$80,440
206	Harrisburg, PA	$73,170	$50,270	$84,450	$74,170
207	Pittsburgh, PA	$73,070	$49,070	$84,910	$77,180
208	Greensboro, NC	$73,030	$48,440	$85,130	$78,640
209	Battle Creek, MI	$73,010	$48,050	$85,300	$80,640
210	Clarksville, TN-KY	$73,010	$47,860	$85,400	$80,280
211	Ocala, FL	$73,010	$46,680	$85,970	$76,660
212	Toledo, OH	$72,840	$47,840	$85,160	$79,650
213	Jackson, MI	$72,610	$48,300	$84,570	$79,110
214	Paducah, KY-IL	$72,590	$44,160	$86,610	$84,320
215	Kokomo, IN	$72,510	$50,320	$83,450	$80,880
216	Grand Rapids, MI	$72,280	$48,110	$84,180	$75,650
217	Bloomington, IN	$72,260	$47,900	$84,240	$76,000
218	Greenville, NC	$72,240	$49,340	$83,510	$81,720
219	Pensacola, FL	$72,240	$45,780	$85,260	$73,930
220	Columbus, GA-AL	$72,200	$44,640	$85,780	$80,850
221	Lancaster, PA	$72,130	$49,550	$83,260	$73,410
222	Elkhart, IN	$72,110	$48,480	$83,760	$79,830
223	Scranton, PA	$71,990	$48,820	$83,410	$76,950
224	Anniston, AL	$71,860	$44,970	$85,090	$83,610
225	Janesville, WI	$71,820	$54,870	$80,160	$76,650
226	Tuscaloosa, AL	$71,820	$46,200	$84,430	$81,870
227	Jacksonville, NC	$71,780	$43,600	$85,650	$77,950
228	Cape Coral, FL	$71,740	$45,820	$84,490	$70,090
229	Idaho Falls, ID	$71,700	$42,950	$85,860	$75,940
230	Fort Wayne, IN	$71,610	$46,840	$83,820	$77,360
231	New Orleans, LA	$71,570	$46,470	$83,930	$77,290
232	Muskegon, MI	$71,530	$48,110	$83,080	$77,310
233	Kingsport, TN-VA	$71,510	$43,780	$85,180	$82,720
234	Lewiston, ID-WA	$71,510	$47,760	$83,200	$78,440
235	Kenosha, WI	$71,450	$51,770	$81,140	$70,660
236	Myrtle Beach, SC	$71,450	$46,550	$83,700	$76,300
237	Dubuque, IA	$71,430	$48,460	$82,720	$81,800
238	Flint, MI	$71,360	$47,590	$83,080	$76,700
239	Dover, DE	$71,260	$48,800	$82,350	$73,080
240	Duluth, MN-WI	$71,260	$51,330	$81,080	$80,280
241	Eau Claire, WI	$71,200	$50,940	$81,180	$76,730
242	La Crosse, WI-MN	$71,180	$48,730	$82,240	$77,560
243	Deltona, FL	$71,160	$45,760	$83,660	$71,610
244	Tucson, AZ	$71,140	$47,130	$82,950	$73,420
245	Decatur, AL	$71,070	$44,180	$84,300	$81,490
246	Beckley, WV	$71,030	$42,660	$84,990	$80,380
247	Boise City, ID	$71,030	$45,930	$83,390	$72,190
248	Saginaw, MI	$71,010	$47,150	$82,760	$78,130
249	Slidell, LA	$70,910	$44,120	$84,120	$76,470
250	Michigan City, IN	$70,870	$44,660	$83,780	$77,300
251	Odessa, TX	$70,820	$46,550	$82,760	$75,420
252	Morgantown, WV	$70,780	$45,990	$83,010	$75,840
253	Wausau, WI	$70,780	$49,730	$81,160	$76,390
254	Appleton, WI	$70,720	$50,040	$80,910	$76,520
255	Flagstaff, AZ	$70,700	$48,170	$81,790	$70,470
256	Weirton, WV-OH	$70,600	$44,780	$83,300	$79,300
257	Jackson, MS	$70,570	$44,620	$83,370	$79,250
258	Lakeland, FL	$70,550	$45,550	$82,890	$72,630
259	Altoona, PA	$70,530	$46,920	$82,180	$78,800
260	Oklahoma City, OK	$70,510	$45,410	$82,870	$77,990
261	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$70,430	$46,110	$82,410	$81,530
262	Waco, TX	$70,410	$45,050	$82,890	$76,080
263	Mobile, AL	$70,390	$44,320	$83,240	$79,900
264	Savannah, GA	$70,390	$45,360	$82,720	$73,930
265	Grants Pass, OR	$70,280	$51,940	$79,310	$71,890
266	Hickory, NC	$70,220	$47,780	$81,290	$79,360
267	Gainesville, GA	$70,180	$44,910	$82,620	$72,530
268	Rockford, IL	$70,120	$49,610	$80,200	$76,090
269	Lawrence, KS	$70,080	$48,880	$80,520	$77,660
270	Logan, UT-ID	$70,080	$44,260	$82,800	$73,060
271	Beaumont, TX	$70,050	$46,400	$81,700	$77,790
272	Port St. Lucie, FL	$69,970	$45,300	$82,120	$69,810
273	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$69,950	$47,570	$80,970	$80,910
274	Punta Gorda, FL	$69,910	$44,930	$82,200	$69,540
275	Sherman, TX	$69,910	$44,550	$82,410	$74,550
276	Wilmington, NC	$69,910	$43,370	$82,970	$72,500
277	Columbia, MO	$69,890	$45,160	$82,080	$78,140
278	Daphne, AL	$69,760	$44,200	$82,350	$73,670
279	Panama City, FL	$69,760	$43,510	$82,700	$71,700
280	Traverse City, MI	$69,700	$49,980	$79,410	$74,650
281	South Bend, IN-MI	$69,680	$48,050	$80,350	$75,040
282	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$69,490	$45,990	$81,080	$70,700
283	Montgomery, AL	$69,490	$43,620	$82,240	$77,480
284	Kalamazoo, MI	$69,410	$46,840	$80,520	$73,190
285	Shreveport, LA	$69,390	$43,350	$82,200	$81,860
286	Bangor, ME	$69,350	$49,250	$79,230	$71,860
287	Lima, OH	$69,330	$47,320	$80,160	$77,320
288	Johnson City, TN	$69,200	$43,530	$81,850	$78,700
289	State College, PA	$69,200	$47,570	$79,850	$71,520
290	Decatur, IL	$69,180	$46,240	$80,450	$78,240
291	Cleveland, TN	$69,160	$43,600	$81,760	$78,520
292	Jackson, TN	$69,060	$45,240	$80,790	$80,750
293	Fayetteville, AR	$69,040	$38,500	$84,070	$75,570
294	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$69,010	$43,680	$81,490	$75,450
295	Sebastian, FL	$69,010	$43,470	$81,600	$70,200
296	Albany, GA	$68,970	$43,010	$81,760	$78,670
297	San Angelo, TX	$68,950	$44,510	$81,000	$74,580
298	Evansville, IN	$68,760	$44,820	$80,560	$75,120
299	Longview, TX	$68,620	$45,240	$80,140	$76,680
300	Sandusky, OH	$68,620	$44,100	$80,680	$76,860
301	Tulsa, OK	$68,580	$44,140	$80,600	$76,870
302	Bay City, MI	$68,560	$45,410	$79,930	$74,590
303	Gettysburg, PA	$68,560	$49,250	$78,060	$71,880
304	Homosassa Springs, FL	$68,520	$43,370	$80,890	$73,310
305	Cedar Rapids, IA	$68,490	$45,680	$79,730	$76,990
306	Columbus, IN	$68,370	$45,550	$79,620	$73,510
307	Jefferson City, MO	$68,290	$48,170	$78,190	$77,620
308	Lincoln, NE	$68,290	$47,940	$78,290	$74,570
309	Bowling Green, KY	$68,270	$44,430	$80,020	$75,700
310	Great Falls, MT	$68,200	$45,760	$79,250	$70,420
311	Amarillo, TX	$68,180	$44,660	$79,770	$74,250
312	Yuma, AZ	$68,100	$46,070	$78,940	$73,460
313	Auburn, AL	$68,040	$43,560	$80,100	$77,380
314	Springfield, MO	$68,020	$44,200	$79,730	$76,790
315	Florence, SC	$68,000	$43,680	$79,960	$78,360
316	Waterloo, IA	$67,970	$44,740	$79,440	$78,080
317	Erie, PA	$67,830	$44,680	$79,250	$74,580
318	Charleston, WV	$67,810	$46,090	$78,520	$76,430
319	Rome, GA	$67,810	$44,680	$79,210	$75,210
320	Alexandria, LA	$67,750	$42,180	$80,330	$79,070
321	Morristown, TN	$67,750	$44,350	$79,270	$78,450
322	Pinehurst, NC	$67,750	$45,510	$78,710	$76,700
323	Kankakee, IL	$67,560	$46,970	$77,690	$70,090
324	Farmington, NM	$67,540	$48,440	$76,960	$77,010
325	Lawton, OK	$67,540	$43,350	$79,440	$78,590
326	Lafayette, IN	$67,520	$46,550	$77,830	$72,270
327	Gainesville, FL	$67,500	$44,970	$78,600	$69,780
328	Omaha, NE-IA	$67,310	$44,820	$78,400	$73,230
329	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$67,140	$43,370	$78,870	$75,930
330	Texarkana, TX-AR	$67,000	$42,370	$79,120	$79,750
331	Prescott Valley, AZ	$66,890	$44,660	$77,850	$68,080
332	Canton, OH	$66,870	$45,510	$77,400	$74,790
333	Missoula, MT	$66,830	$46,280	$76,960	$69,290
334	Corpus Christi, TX	$66,730	$42,660	$78,580	$72,010
335	Macon, GA	$66,730	$41,270	$79,270	$75,380
336	Harrisonburg, VA	$66,640	$43,950	$77,830	$70,230
337	Casper, WY	$66,560	$43,870	$77,730	$70,940
338	Dothan, AL	$66,480	$40,660	$79,190	$79,300
339	Abilene, TX	$66,440	$44,890	$77,060	$73,520
340	Rocky Mount, NC	$66,390	$44,140	$77,360	$75,430
341	Williamsport, PA	$66,370	$46,340	$76,250	$71,870
342	Florence, AL	$66,310	$42,040	$78,270	$78,180
343	Muncie, IN	$66,310	$43,040	$77,770	$75,230
344	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$66,210	$43,720	$77,290	$70,360
345	Lewiston, ME	$66,120	$41,200	$78,420	$69,790
346	Owensboro, KY	$66,080	$39,580	$79,120	$74,570
347	Tallahassee, FL	$65,960	$43,180	$77,190	$70,230
348	Terre Haute, IN	$65,850	$44,200	$76,520	$75,000
349	Twin Falls, ID	$65,790	$41,870	$77,560	$71,430
350	Wheeling, WV-OH	$65,710	$45,300	$75,770	$74,400
351	Baton Rouge, LA	$65,690	$43,310	$76,710	$72,360
352	Lubbock, TX	$65,520	$43,580	$76,340	$71,750
353	Springfield, OH	$65,500	$45,300	$75,440	$72,390
354	Youngstown, OH	$65,480	$43,450	$76,320	$74,930
355	Wichita Falls, TX	$65,400	$41,200	$77,310	$73,060
356	Lake Charles, LA	$65,330	$45,360	$75,190	$76,100
357	Sebring, FL	$65,250	$45,300	$75,070	$70,560
358	Joplin, MO-KS	$65,210	$41,810	$76,730	$76,080
359	Johnstown, PA	$64,850	$41,930	$76,150	$75,470
360	Victoria, TX	$64,770	$41,080	$76,460	$72,100
361	College Station, TX	$64,690	$44,870	$74,440	$71,130
362	Little Rock, AR	$64,670	$39,890	$76,860	$72,370
363	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$64,480	$44,280	$74,420	$74,910
364	Pocatello, ID	$63,960	$43,160	$74,190	$71,940
365	Grand Island, NE	$63,770	$45,590	$72,720	$73,590
366	Mansfield, OH	$63,610	$42,220	$74,130	$71,570
367	Enid, OK	$63,380	$38,150	$75,800	$75,210
368	El Paso, TX	$63,320	$41,120	$74,260	$70,420
369	Tyler, TX	$63,130	$42,810	$73,130	$68,500
370	Valdosta, GA	$63,110	$40,060	$74,440	$71,500
371	Gadsden, AL	$62,520	$40,020	$73,610	$72,990
372	Athens, GA	$62,130	$38,880	$73,590	$66,560
373	Dalton, GA	$61,940	$41,850	$71,820	$68,940
374	Las Cruces, NM	$61,650	$41,540	$71,570	$68,340
375	St. George, UT	$61,630	$38,230	$73,170	$63,330
376	Houma, LA	$61,590	$41,770	$71,360	$72,370
377	Hammond, LA	$60,960	$41,390	$70,620	$72,180
378	Lafayette, LA	$60,900	$40,210	$71,120	$69,830
379	Jonesboro, AR	$60,760	$40,750	$70,620	$70,750
380	Brownsville, TX	$60,740	$39,580	$71,160	$70,650
381	Monroe, LA	$60,150	$40,310	$69,930	$71,950
382	Hot Springs, AR	$59,630	$39,080	$69,740	$69,560
383	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$59,220	$40,830	$68,290	$68,950
384	Hattiesburg, MS	$59,180	$38,250	$69,490	$67,530
385	McAllen, TX	$58,780	$38,630	$68,700	$68,430
386	Laredo, TX	$57,740	$38,270	$67,330	$66,400
387	Eagle Pass, TX	$51,170	$34,170	$59,550	$61,060
388	San Juan, PR	$47,610	$30,470	$56,060	N/A
389	Aguadilla, PR	$44,800	$26,710	$53,730	N/A
390	Ponce, PR	$44,700	$27,350	$53,250	N/A
391	Guayama, PR	$42,410	$30,600	$48,210	N/A
392	Mayaguez, PR	$41,770	$27,870	$48,590	N/A
393	Arecibo, PR	$39,100	$26,940	$45,120	N/A

More on human resources specialists

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Human Resources Specialist salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays human resources specialists the most?

San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $122,280 a year, followed by San Francisco, CA ($113,530), Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV ($105,580), Lexington Park, MD ($104,230). The national mean is $81,990 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do human resources specialists earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($110,740 at national prices, $122,280 nominal), Parkersburg, WV ($106,860 at national prices, $93,040 nominal), Lexington Park, MD ($103,440 at national prices, $104,230 nominal).

How much do human resources specialists make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $98,090; Los Angeles, CA: $89,770; Chicago, IL-IN: $83,180; Dallas, TX: $75,210; Houston, TX: $77,130 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do human resources specialists earn the least?

Of the 393 metro areas with their own estimate, Arecibo, PR has the lowest mean wage, $39,100.