Human Resources Managers: Job Description
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
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What Do Human Resources Managers Perform?
The core tasks performed by human resources managers span:
- 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.
What Human Resources Managers Need to Know
Top human resources managers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Diversity Manager
- Diversity and Inclusion Director
- Efficiency Manager
- Employee Relations Manager
- Employee Welfare Manager
- Employment Manager
- HR Admin Director (Human Resources Administration Director)
- HR Coordinator (Human Resources Coordinator)
How Many Human Resources Managers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 419,398 human resources managers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -3.6% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Human Resources Managers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $95,702 |
| Hourly median | $46.01 |
| 10th percentile | $53,727 |
| 25th percentile | $74,715 |
| 75th percentile | $116,689 |
| 90th percentile | $137,677 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Human Resources Managers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $176,510 |
| District of Columbia | $174,400 |
| New York | $171,440 |
| Washington | $169,410 |
| California | $169,140 |
| New Jersey | $166,070 |
| Rhode Island | $165,380 |
| Virginia | $161,690 |
| Colorado | $154,500 |
| Minnesota | $152,250 |
| Maryland | $150,420 |
| Connecticut | $149,310 |
| Delaware | $145,630 |
| Georgia | $138,050 |
| Oregon | $135,780 |
| Illinois | $134,320 |
| North Carolina | $134,170 |
| Wisconsin | $132,940 |
| Michigan | $131,810 |
| Texas | $131,730 |
| Missouri | $131,210 |
| Utah | $131,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,830 |
| Arizona | $130,340 |
| Ohio | $129,320 |
| New Hampshire | $128,950 |
| North Dakota | $127,190 |
| Kansas | $126,550 |
| Indiana | $126,400 |
| Nebraska | $124,990 |
| Florida | $124,950 |
| Tennessee | $124,890 |
| Vermont | $124,340 |
| Maine | $123,860 |
| Alaska | $122,560 |
| Iowa | $122,200 |
| South Carolina | $118,760 |
| Hawaii | $118,060 |
| New Mexico | $117,280 |
| Idaho | $116,990 |
| Wyoming | $113,900 |
| Kentucky | $113,740 |
| Alabama | $110,030 |
| Oklahoma | $109,990 |
| South Dakota | $109,100 |
| West Virginia | $108,660 |
| Montana | $108,370 |
| Louisiana | $104,430 |
| Nevada | $103,730 |
| Mississippi | $103,150 |
| Arkansas | $99,760 |
| Guam | $81,280 |
| Virgin Islands | $77,490 |
| Puerto Rico | $74,460 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for human resources managers shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $162,135 | 20.7% | 1.07 |
| New England | $160,774 | 6.7% | 1.26 |
| Middle Atlantic | $159,554 | 20.4% | 1.20 |
| Plains States | $136,382 | 5.0% | 0.89 |
| Great Lakes | $131,991 | 17.5% | 1.18 |
| Southeast | $129,762 | 24.1% | 0.87 |
| Rocky Mountains | $124,564 | 1.8% | 0.75 |
| Southwest | $123,850 | 3.2% | 0.78 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Human Resources Managers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $206,420 | 5,890 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $180,050 | 5,700 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $178,550 | 3,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $176,290 | 17,240 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $172,970 | 6,570 |
| Midland, MI | MI | $169,300 | 90 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $166,660 | 1,030 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $166,430 | 260 |
Industry Breakdown
Most human resources managers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 33,790 | $163,970 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 31,650 | $163,180 |
| Manufacturing | 20,250 | $137,570 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 19,340 | $118,700 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 18,810 | $120,010 |
| Finance and Insurance | 16,370 | $164,680 |
| Educational Services | 14,730 | $128,020 |
| Information | 9,880 | $196,770 |
Human Resources Managers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Time accounting software: Kronos Workforce Timekeeper (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of human resources managers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level human resources managers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Compensation and Benefits Managers (Primary-Long)
- Training and Development Managers (Primary-Long)
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Long)
- Compliance Managers (Supplemental)
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (Primary-Long)
- Human Resources Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Labor Relations Specialists (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring human resources managers typically earn programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
7 programs across 2 majors
Psychology
1 programs across 1 majors
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-3121.00 (Human Resources Managers).
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