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What Is a Human Resources (HR) Manager's Salary?

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A woman talks to two coworkers in an office

Median Annual Salary

The annual median salary for an HR manager with a bachelor's degree is $126,230, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Human Resources Managers

National data

Median Salary: $126,230

Projected job growth: 7.3%

10th Percentile: $75,000

25th Percentile: $95,310

75th Percentile: $163,360

90th Percentile: N/A

Projected job growth: 7.3%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $98,980 $51,530 $162,820
Alaska $103,020 $75,290 $190,290
Arizona $119,400 $66,020 $189,830
Arkansas $98,370 $58,760 $162,820
California $138,920 $77,990 N/A
Colorado $131,710 $95,140 N/A
Connecticut $127,190 $77,510 N/A
Delaware $131,710 $77,860 N/A
District of Columbia $162,040 $100,250 N/A
Florida $102,580 $62,840 $178,660
Georgia $110,910 $65,420 $207,280
Hawaii $102,520 $74,930 $162,720
Idaho $94,690 $59,340 $161,150
Illinois $119,730 $66,170 $207,420
Indiana $103,030 $65,960 $167,880
Iowa $102,150 $74,820 $167,660
Kansas $102,580 $70,660 $162,820
Kentucky $99,530 $64,870 $161,600
Louisiana $86,000 $60,190 $160,580
Maine $119,860 $77,960 $207,420
Maryland $127,160 $80,330 $206,540
Massachusetts $151,300 $79,700 N/A
Michigan $103,030 $71,540 $189,830
Minnesota $126,230 $77,380 $207,600
Mississippi $94,450 $60,000 $161,860
Missouri $102,770 $68,630 $184,110
Montana $94,940 $58,860 $130,150
Nebraska $99,890 $71,880 $162,820
Nevada $77,490 $60,390 $135,580
New Hampshire $127,170 $75,290 N/A
New Jersey $161,520 $103,030 N/A
New Mexico $99,550 $61,140 $162,820
New York $163,360 $98,720 N/A
North Carolina $125,770 $75,670 $207,420
North Dakota $104,940 $78,060 $206,540
Ohio $123,270 $77,040 $207,520
Oklahoma $98,980 $60,700 $170,440
Oregon $119,410 $75,090 $168,010
Pennsylvania $120,130 $62,980 $206,540
Rhode Island $150,890 $78,240 N/A
South Carolina $98,360 $52,160 $160,920
South Dakota $98,360 $74,340 $143,870
Tennessee $96,610 $58,830 $160,920
Texas $125,770 $77,060 $207,420
Utah $99,880 $60,990 $168,490
Vermont $103,030 $74,780 $168,750
Virginia $132,020 $81,030 N/A
Washington $138,640 $95,140 N/A
West Virginia $99,510 $61,090 $166,000
Wisconsin $119,680 $78,080 $183,920
Wyoming $98,980 $68,700 $161,520

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2021 median salary; projected job growth through 2031. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

In this Article

A Range of Salaries

The role and responsibilities of a human resources manager vary greatly by employer. For example, larger organizations may have more HR professionals working in specialized areas, while smaller organizations have fewer managers who handle multiple areas as the need arises. These factors, along with geographic location, education, and experience affect what HR managers earn.

The BLS reports that HR managers in the top 25% of earners make $163,360, while those in the lowest 10% earn $75,000.

Salaries by Metro Area

Many of the highest-paying metro areas for HR managers in the U.S. are on the coasts. Here are the top 10, according to BLS data.

Metro Area Median Annual Salary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $173,120
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA $164,560
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA $163,320
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT $161,520
Ithaca, NY $161,520
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $160,640
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH $159,490
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $151,690
Greeley, CO $151,110
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO $150,890

More Factors that Influence Salary

There are other factors that can influence the salary of an HR manager. Here are some to consider when you think about how much you'd like to earn in this role.

Education

While you can land a job with an associate degree in human resource management, an HR manager typically has a bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field. The knowledge, skills, and critical thinking experience you gain from your education are essential for a managerial role, which involves planning, managing, and decision making.

Rue Dooley, SHRM-SCP, the HR knowledge advisor for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), says a growing number of HR professionals have master's degrees, so you may want to consider earning a graduate degree after you're grounded in your career and know which direction you want to take it. "The more formal education a student can get, the better," says Dooley.

Experience

An HR manager typically needs two to three years of experience before they're qualified to manage others. Entry-level positions such as HR specialist are likely to offer lower salaries because you don't have practical experience yet. But with some experience, you can increase your opportunities and earning potential.

Entry-level positions such as HR specialist are likely to offer lower salaries because you don't have on-the-job experience yet. But you can increase your opportunities and earning potential with experience from your first roles.

Certification

Professional certifications can also increase your earning power. A certification demonstrates to others that you've mastered specific knowledge and skills beyond what you learned in your degree program.

The SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), granted by the Society for Human Resource Management, is one such credential for HR Managers.

Workplace

Human resources managers work in all types of industries, large and small organizations, and public and private enterprises.

According to the BLS, these are the median annual salaries for some of the top workplaces for HR managers.

IndustrySalary
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$142,710
Management of Companies and Enterprises$151,750
Employment Services$113,460
Local Government$114,710
Office Administrative Services$127,380

Specialty

While many HR managers are generalists who manage a department, you may have the opportunity to manage one or more specialties, such as recruiting and hiring, in a larger organization if you have the right experience.

Specializing in a particular industry can also make you more valuable to prospective employers. For example, working as an HR manager in healthcare can allow you to develop expertise specific to that field and the challenges of working with employees in that industry.

Job Outlook

Jobs for HR managers are expected to grow by 7.3% through 2031, according to the BLS. That's slightly faster than the projected growth for all occupations.

The BLS reports that professional, scientific, and technical services employ the most HR managers.

If you're wondering about the opportunities in your geographic area, consider the size of your state population. As you might expect, states with higher populations have the most jobs for HR managers, while states with lower populations employ fewer managers. 

States with the Most HR Managers

StateEmployment
California22,420
Illinois11,200
Texas11,140
New York10,800
Florida7,160

States with the Fewest HR Managers

StateEmployment
Rhode Island360
Vermont310
South Dakota270
North Dakota200
Wyoming150

HR Manager Salaries Compared to Similar Roles

If you're passionate about human resources but curious about your earning potential in comparison to similar roles, here's a look at BLS salaries for HR managers and occupations that require similar education and experience.

Career Median Annual Salary
Human Resources Managers $126,230
Administrative Services and Facilities Managers $99,290
Computer and Information Systems Managers $159,010
Financial Managers $131,710

anna giorgi

Written and reported by:

Anna Giorgi

Contributing Writer

rue dooley

With professional insight from:

Rue Dooley, SHRM-SCP

HR Knowledge Advisor, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

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