How Much Does a Director of Human Resources Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$149,280
Human resources directors in the U.S. earn a median of $149,280 a year, or $71.77 an hour. Half of human resources directors earn more than $149,280 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $267,810.
Pay percentiles for human resources directors
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42.40 | $88,200 |
| 25th | $53.42 | $111,110 |
| 50th (median) | $71.77 | $149,280 |
| 75th | $95.81 | $199,290 |
| 90th | $128.76 | $267,810 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Human Resources Managers (SOC 11-3121). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for human resources directors
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184,350 | $88.63 | +23% |
| Massachusetts | $181,780 | $87.39 | +22% |
| New York | $176,650 | $84.93 | +18% |
| New Jersey | $172,440 | $82.90 | +16% |
| California | $170,080 | $81.77 | +14% |
| Rhode Island | $167,110 | $80.34 | +12% |
| Colorado | $166,400 | $80.00 | +11% |
| Virginia | $165,980 | $79.80 | +11% |
| Connecticut | $165,930 | $79.77 | +11% |
| Washington | $165,530 | $79.58 | +11% |
| United States | $149,280 | $71.77 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many human resources directors are there?
BLS counts about 220,660 human resources directors employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Human Resources Managers”. The most jobs are in California (27,450), Texas (23,220) and New York (17,920).
The mean (average) annual wage is $164,230, higher than the median of $149,280.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $12,440
- Biweekly
- $5,742
- Weekly
- $2,871
- Daily (8 hours)
- $574
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do human resources directors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for human resources directors is $71.77. The middle 50% earn between $53.42 and $95.81 an hour.
Which state pays human resources directors the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for human resources directors at $184,350, +23% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for human resources directors?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of human resources directors earn less than $88,200 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.