Human Resources Managers
SOC code 11-3121 · O*NET-SOC 11-3121.00 · Considerable preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Human Resources Managers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$149,280
a year
Hourly
$71.77
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$164,230
$78.96 per hour
Middle 50%
$111,110 – $199,290
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$88,200 – $267,810
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
220,660
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $88,200
- $42.40/hr
- 25th percentile
- $111,110
- $53.42/hr
- Median percentile
- $149,280
- $71.77/hr
- 75th percentile
- $199,290
- $95.81/hr
- 90th percentile
- $267,810
- $128.76/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+5%
Growing faster than average
221,900
jobs in 2024
233,000
projected for 2034
About 11,100 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a human resources manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
- Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
- Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
- Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
- Negotiate bargaining agreements and help interpret labor contracts.
- Advise managers on organizational policy matters, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes.
- Plan and conduct new employee orientation to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives.
- Analyze and modify compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
How to become a human resources manager
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 82% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree82%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate5%
- Master's Degree5%
Common questions
How much does a human resources manager earn?
The national median is $149,280 a year. The full range runs from $88,200 at the 10th percentile to $267,810 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a human resources manager without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is human resources manager in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 5% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.4/5
- Reading Comprehension4.3/5
- Speaking4.3/5
- Writing4.1/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Learning4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Personnel and Human Resources4.9/5
- English Language4.3/5
- Administration and Management4.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Education and Training3.9/5
- Law and Government3.6/5
- Psychology3.3/5
- Public Safety and Security3.2/5
Transferable strengths: Management of Personnel Resources, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness.