What You Need to Know About Labor Relations Specialist
Occupation Description Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
Daily Life Of a Labor Relations Specialist
- Draft rules or regulations to govern collective bargaining activities in collaboration with company, government, or employee representatives.
- Call or meet with union, company, government, or other interested parties to discuss labor relations matters, such as contract negotiations or grievances.
- Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment.
- Monitor company or workforce adherence to labor agreements.
- Develop employee health and safety policies.
- Select mediators or arbitrators for labor disputes or contract negotiations.
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Qualities of a Labor Relations Specialist
Below is a list of the skills most Labor Relations Specialists say are important on the job.
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
- Labor Relations Director
- Union Representative
- Labor Relations Manager
- Labor Relations Representative
- Employer Relations Representative
Is There Job Demand for Labor Relations Specialists?
In the United States, there were 81,100 jobs for Labor Relations Specialist in 2016. 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.
Average Labor Relations Specialists Salary
The average yearly salary of a Labor Relations Specialist ranges between $19,270 and $123,340.

Labor Relations Specialists who work in New Jersey, North Dakota, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Labor Relations Specialists make in each U.S. state?
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
Becoming a Labor Relations Specialist
Individuals working as a Labor Relations Specialist have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Labor Relations Specialists?

The table below shows the approximate number of Labor Relations Specialists employed by various industries.

References:
Image Credit: Arunkumar Umapathy via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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