Labor Relations Specialists: Job Description
Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Labor Relations Specialists Do?
The core tasks performed by labor relations specialists include:
- Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
- Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
- Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
- Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
- Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
- Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
- Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.
- Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful labor relations specialists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Labor Relations Specialists Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Appeals and Grievances Specialist
- Arbitration Specialist
- Business Agent
- Business Representative
- Collective Bargaining Specialist
- Conciliator
- Contract Negotiator
- Employee Engagement Specialist
How Many Labor Relations Specialists Are There?
There are about 210,263 labor relations specialists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +2.5% over the projection horizon.
Labor Relations Specialists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $129,587 |
| Hourly median | $62.30 |
| 10th percentile | $79,440 |
| 25th percentile | $104,513 |
| 75th percentile | $154,661 |
| 90th percentile | $179,735 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Labor Relations Specialists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $124,930 |
| Alaska | $124,770 |
| New Jersey | $118,940 |
| Washington | $108,110 |
| New Hampshire | $106,070 |
| North Dakota | $105,590 |
| California | $105,320 |
| Oregon | $103,210 |
| Hawaii | $102,070 |
| New Mexico | $100,420 |
| New York | $98,200 |
| Wyoming | $97,620 |
| Massachusetts | $97,490 |
| Connecticut | $96,710 |
| West Virginia | $96,410 |
| Maine | $95,740 |
| Minnesota | $95,640 |
| Maryland | $95,450 |
| Illinois | $95,080 |
| Missouri | $93,910 |
| Virginia | $92,410 |
| Delaware | $91,910 |
| Utah | $91,730 |
| North Carolina | $88,270 |
| Wisconsin | $85,620 |
| Idaho | $84,100 |
| Vermont | $83,420 |
| Colorado | $82,120 |
| Oklahoma | $82,080 |
| Indiana | $81,820 |
| Nebraska | $81,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,330 |
| Michigan | $78,600 |
| Iowa | $78,260 |
| South Dakota | $78,180 |
| Texas | $77,750 |
| Arizona | $76,820 |
| Ohio | $76,810 |
| Florida | $76,490 |
| Georgia | $75,910 |
| Nevada | $75,730 |
| Louisiana | $75,280 |
| Kansas | $73,020 |
| Rhode Island | $72,360 |
| Mississippi | $71,550 |
| Tennessee | $66,640 |
| Montana | $64,360 |
| South Carolina | $62,370 |
| Kentucky | $61,800 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,680 |
| Alabama | $56,360 |
| Arkansas | $53,450 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for labor relations specialists differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $104,679 | 21.9% | 1.35 |
| Middle Atlantic | $98,113 | 23.0% | 1.56 |
| New England | $94,059 | 5.9% | 1.35 |
| Plains States | $89,363 | 6.5% | 1.01 |
| Great Lakes | $83,753 | 23.0% | 1.63 |
| Rocky Mountains | $83,136 | 1.5% | 0.43 |
| Southwest | $79,451 | 5.5% | 0.44 |
| Southeast | $75,788 | 12.6% | 0.58 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $145,360 | 590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $126,460 | 2,110 |
| Worcester, MA | MA | $123,430 | 140 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $118,970 | 150 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $118,620 | 2,030 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $116,420 | 110 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $115,830 | 90 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $115,370 | 140 |
Top Industries Employing Labor Relations Specialists
The bulk of labor relations specialists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 50,610 | $93,670 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 2,410 | $98,450 |
| Finance and Insurance | 1,870 | $89,110 |
| Educational Services | 1,430 | $81,160 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,240 | $86,180 |
| Manufacturing | 870 | $97,110 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 850 | $100,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 820 | $107,600 |
Below are examples of industries where labor relations specialists work:
Tools and Technology
- Application server software: Kubernetes (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)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: ServiceNow (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Workday software (hot technology)
- Human resources software: Oracle HRIS (in demand)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for labor relations specialists tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Getting Started in This Career
Typical labor relations specialists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Compensation and Benefits Managers (Primary-Long)
- Human Resources Managers (Primary-Short)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Compliance Managers (Primary-Long)
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (Primary-Short)
- Human Resources Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future labor relations specialists commonly pursue programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
3 programs across 1 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
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: 13-1075.00 (Labor Relations Specialists).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.