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Become a Human Resources Manager

Learn what it takes to climb the HR career ladder and become a human resources manager.

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What Do You Do in a Career as a Human Resources Manager?


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In our highly competitive, corporate career world, employers continually seek the best and brightest to fill available jobs. In an effort to reduce employee turnover and to create an environment in which productivity and morale can thrive, these employers look to Human Resources Managers for help. An HR manager's professional mantra might be "happy workers create profitable and healthy companies."

Human resource managers provide an invaluable service to a company by juggling the workings, laws and ethical relationships between executive management, middle-management and worker. By doing so, they allow employees to concentrate on the job they were hired to do.

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An HR manager strives to make a mutually beneficial work space for employer and employee by performing all or some of the following duties:

  • assign employees to projects and departments based on skill set and skill level
  • develop training and implement professional development programs
  • communicate with employer and employees to improve working conditions
  • stay abreast of all labor laws, regulatory compliance issues and their changes
  • maintain corporate functions such as employee compensation and benefits, recruitment and personnel policies

Experience is a critical asset for those looking to advance into HR management. Many employers look for professionals who have been in the field for some time because they recognize the value of experience in a field that deals with people. After earning your degree, you may find yourself working in benefits or some specialized field of HR for some time. The more hands-on experience you acquire in different specialties the better. It is also worth earning your Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certificate. These are industry-recognized credentials that can lead to career opportunities and professional growth.

The starting median wage for an HR manager just beginning his or her career is $42,000 annually. Payscale.com notes that HR managers who work within the federal government are generally paid at a higher rate than those who do not. State and local governments are second on the list, followed by corporate firms or private practice.

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Human Resources Manager Career Path

Entry Level Mid Level Senior Level

Types of Roles

Benefits specialist, Employee welfare specialist

HR generalist, Organizational development

HR manager, HR director

Experience

0- 4 years

5 - 10 years

10+ years

Getting There

  • All entry-level requirements
  • HR or general business master's or MBA degree
  • Post-graduate course work in business administration, staffing or management
  • All mid-level requirements
  • Administration or management training
  • Proven expertise in the field

Salary*

$42,340

$62,696

$88,671

Description

  • Manage company employee health insurance, pension and 401k plans
  • Oversee occupational safety, facility security and employee transportation programs
  • Supervise lower level HR generalists
  • Resolve complicated employee problems related to general HR issues
  • Provides high-level direction for one or more HR departments
  • Design strategies to maximize the effective use of employees by a company
  • Report to top company executives

* Median income for each position from Payscale.com. Salary depends strongly on the type of organization.

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