Human Resources Specialist
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.
Also called: Corporate Recruiter · Employment Representative · HR Analyst (Human Resources Analyst) · HR Coordinator (Human Resources Coordinator) · HR Generalist (Human Resources Generalist) · Human Resources Representative (HR Rep) · Human Resources Specialist (HR Specialist) · Personnel Analyst
O*NET-SOC 13-1071.00 (Human Resources Specialists)
Human Resources Specialist salary
Wages for human resources specialists across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $36.51.
Human Resources Specialist pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $52,770 | $83,500 | $151,410 |
| Texas | $43,410 | $68,920 | $117,060 |
| Florida | $44,920 | $66,410 | $115,920 |
| New York | $56,040 | $84,380 | $149,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,610 | $70,450 | $119,850 |
| Illinois | $48,980 | $76,820 | $123,940 |
| Ohio | $45,950 | $70,180 | $118,340 |
| Georgia | $44,580 | $70,570 | $125,540 |
| North Carolina | $46,760 | $73,070 | $126,000 |
| Michigan | $46,580 | $69,520 | $110,710 |
Human Resources Specialist job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 939,700 jobs in 2025 to 999,700 in 2035 (6% change).
- About 73,700 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Rapid Growth; Numerous Job Openings).
How to become a human resources specialist
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma1.2%
- High school diploma or equivalent9.3%
- Some college, no degree15.1%
- Associate's degree7.9%
- Bachelor's degree45.6%
- Master's degree19%
- Doctoral or professional degree2%
Related training programs
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Executive/Career Coaching
- Human Resources Management and Services, Other
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Organizational Behavior Studies
What does a human resources specialist do?
Common tasks
- Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
- Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork.
- Administer employee benefit plans.
- Maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Schedule or administer skill, intelligence, psychological, or drug tests for current or prospective employees.
- Prepare or maintain employment records related to events, such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions, using human resources management system software.
- Address employee relations issues, such as harassment allegations, work complaints, or other employee concerns.
- Conduct reference or background checks on job applicants.
- Review employment applications and job orders to match applicants with job requirements.
- Inform job applicants of details such as duties and responsibilities, compensation, benefits, schedules, working conditions, or promotion opportunities.
Most important skills
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
- Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
- Active Learning
- Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Human Resources Specialist certifications
8 of 56 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals · Core
- SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)Society for Human Resource Management · Core
- Human Resource Certification Institute · Advanced · In demand
- International Association of Outsourcing Professionals · Core
- International Association of Outsourcing Professionals · Core
- International Association of Outsourcing Professionals · Core
- Career Directors International · Specialty
- Career Directors International · Specialty
See all 56certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Human Resources Specialist jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more human resources jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Human Resources jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
- Human Resources Manager
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Compensation and Benefits Specialist
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Compensation and Benefits Managers
- Training and Development Managers
- Administrative Services Managers
- Training and Development Specialist
More human resources careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Human Resources Specialists. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.