All About Labor Relations Specialists
Job Description & Duties Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
A Day in the Life of a Labor Relations Specialist
- Prepare reports or presentations to communicate employee satisfaction or related data to management.
- Develop methods to monitor employee satisfaction with policies or working conditions, including grievance or complaint procedures.
- 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.
- Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
- Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
Featured schools near , edit
Labor Relations Specialist Required Skills
Labor Relations Specialists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Types of Labor Relations Specialist
- Industrial Relations Worker
- Employee Relations Assistant
- Industrial Relations Analyst
- Labor Relations Representative
- Employee Relations Specialist
What Kind of Labor Relations Specialist Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 81,100 jobs for Labor Relations Specialist in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Labor Relations Specialist. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,800 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Labor Relations Specialist are Georgia, Maryland, and Louisiana. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Vermont, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Labor Relations Specialist
The typical yearly salary for Labor Relations Specialists is somewhere between $19,270 and $123,340.

Labor Relations Specialists who work in New Jersey, North Dakota, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Labor Relations Specialists in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $42,590 |
Alaska | $83,200 |
Arizona | $71,400 |
Arkansas | $49,660 |
California | $80,270 |
Colorado | $76,620 |
Connecticut | $63,230 |
District of Columbia | $89,420 |
Florida | $62,580 |
Georgia | $61,620 |
Hawaii | $76,140 |
Idaho | $54,040 |
Illinois | $58,620 |
Indiana | $66,520 |
Iowa | $62,690 |
Kansas | $55,300 |
Kentucky | $57,460 |
Louisiana | $49,920 |
Maine | $79,850 |
Maryland | $83,860 |
Massachusetts | $72,500 |
Michigan | $72,320 |
Minnesota | $74,490 |
Mississippi | $68,590 |
Missouri | $55,240 |
Montana | $52,570 |
Nebraska | $51,040 |
Nevada | $72,870 |
New Hampshire | $63,830 |
New Jersey | $117,470 |
New Mexico | $64,350 |
New York | $85,870 |
North Carolina | $59,290 |
North Dakota | $94,440 |
Ohio | $47,600 |
Oklahoma | $65,460 |
Oregon | $85,820 |
Pennsylvania | $78,320 |
Rhode Island | $67,720 |
South Carolina | $64,410 |
Tennessee | $64,020 |
Texas | $69,310 |
Utah | $47,250 |
Vermont | $70,250 |
Virginia | $65,280 |
Washington | $77,070 |
West Virginia | $41,930 |
Wisconsin | $42,650 |
Wyoming | $61,600 |
What Tools do Labor Relations Specialists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Labor Relations Specialists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Oracle PeopleSoft
How to Become a Labor Relations Specialist
What education or degrees do I need to become a Labor Relations Specialist?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Labor Relations Specialists Work

Below are examples of industries where Labor Relations Specialists work:

References:
Image Credit: Arunkumar Umapathy via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |