How Much Does a Human Resources Specialist Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$75,940
Human resources specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $75,940 a year, or $36.51 an hour. Half of human resources specialists earn more than $75,940 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $128,720.
Pay percentiles for human resources specialists
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22.69 | $47,180 |
| 25th | $28.18 | $58,610 |
| 50th (median) | $36.51 | $75,940 |
| 75th | $47.78 | $99,380 |
| 90th | $61.89 | $128,720 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Human Resources Specialists (SOC 13-1071). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for human resources specialists
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 | $53.35 | +46% |
| Massachusetts | $85,630 | $41.17 | +13% |
| Washington | $84,550 | $40.65 | +11% |
| New York | $84,380 | $40.57 | +11% |
| Maryland | $83,910 | $40.34 | +10% |
| California | $83,500 | $40.14 | +10% |
| Connecticut | $82,890 | $39.85 | +9% |
| Virginia | $82,090 | $39.47 | +8% |
| Colorado | $80,840 | $38.86 | +6% |
| New Jersey | $80,690 | $38.80 | +6% |
| United States | $75,940 | $36.51 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many human resources specialists are there?
BLS counts about 912,430 human resources specialists employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in California (104,000), Texas (84,930) and Florida (62,730).
The mean (average) annual wage is $81,990, higher than the median of $75,940.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,328
- Biweekly
- $2,921
- Weekly
- $1,460
- Daily (8 hours)
- $292
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for human resources specialists is $36.51. The middle 50% earn between $28.18 and $47.78 an hour.
Which state pays human resources specialists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for human resources specialists at $110,970, +46% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for human resources specialists?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of human resources specialists earn less than $47,180 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.