Human Resources Generalist Salary By State: Highest-Paid Human Resources Generalists by State [2026]
Research Summary. Extensive research conducted by the Zippia data science team has revealed the following information about human resources generalist salaries across various states in the United States:
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New York offers the highest average human resources generalist salary at $64,053.
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Oklahoma has the lowest average salary for human resources generalists at $40,746.
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The national average salary for human resources generalists is $56,159.
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The national hourly pay rate for human resources generalists is $27.00.
For further details, you can explore our specific methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently show that salary remains a top priority for professionals across all demographics. Many are eager to know: how much do human resources generalists earn in their area?
While individual salaries can vary based on numerous factors, we provide comprehensive data on average salaries for human resources generalists by state, segmented by seniority level. These averages are a reliable gauge of what you might expect to earn, even if your local figures differ slightly.
Following adjustments for various factors, New York retains its status as the state with the highest salary for human resources generalists.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for human resources generalist salaries:
Let’s take a deeper look at the rankings and insights into salaries across all states.
Highest-Paid Human Resources Generalists By State
| Rank | State | Average Human Resources Generalist Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $64,053 | $46,000 | $87,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $63,461 | $46,000 | $87,000 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $61,805 | $44,000 | $84,000 |
| 4 | California | $61,413 | $42,000 | $88,000 |
| 5 | Virginia | $60,742 | $43,000 | $85,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $60,695 | $44,000 | $82,000 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $60,476 | $44,000 | $81,000 |
| 8 | Maryland | $59,648 | $42,000 | $82,000 |
| 9 | Alaska | $57,783 | $49,000 | $68,000 |
| 10 | Delaware | $57,698 | $41,000 | $79,000 |
| 11 | Oregon | $56,786 | $40,000 | $78,000 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $56,349 | $41,000 | $76,000 |
| 13 | Colorado | $56,296 | $40,000 | $77,000 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $56,153 | $41,000 | $75,000 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $55,408 | $40,000 | $76,000 |
| 16 | Illinois | $53,907 | $39,000 | $74,000 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $53,617 | $39,000 | $71,000 |
| 18 | Alabama | $53,138 | $37,000 | $75,000 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $52,498 | $39,000 | $70,000 |
| 20 | Texas | $52,407 | $36,000 | $75,000 |
| 21 | Ohio | $51,893 | $37,000 | $71,000 |
| 22 | Indiana | $51,686 | $37,000 | $71,000 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $51,580 | $37,000 | $70,000 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $51,495 | $36,000 | $72,000 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $51,492 | $36,000 | $71,000 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $51,140 | $36,000 | $71,000 |
| 27 | Idaho | $51,066 | $36,000 | $70,000 |
| 28 | Michigan | $51,039 | $37,000 | $70,000 |
| 29 | Maine | $49,863 | $37,000 | $65,000 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $49,439 | $35,000 | $69,000 |
| 31 | Vermont | $49,242 | $37,000 | $65,000 |
| 32 | Missouri | $49,057 | $35,000 | $67,000 |
| 33 | Kansas | $49,016 | $35,000 | $67,000 |
| 34 | Arizona | $48,598 | $34,000 | $69,000 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $48,373 | $34,000 | $68,000 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $48,270 | $33,000 | $68,000 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $48,254 | $35,000 | $66,000 |
| 38 | Georgia | $47,790 | $33,000 | $67,000 |
| 39 | Iowa | $47,750 | $34,000 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Utah | $47,750 | $34,000 | $66,000 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $47,315 | $34,000 | $64,000 |
| 42 | Nevada | $47,209 | $32,000 | $67,000 |
| 43 | Montana | $47,025 | $34,000 | $64,000 |
| 44 | Florida | $46,781 | $32,000 | $66,000 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $46,737 | $36,000 | $59,000 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $46,315 | $32,000 | $65,000 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $44,985 | $31,000 | $64,000 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $42,669 | $30,000 | $59,000 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $41,779 | $30,000 | $56,000 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $40,746 | $29,000 | $57,000 |
Methodology: Human Resources Generalist Salary By State
To accurately gauge human resources generalist salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is enhanced by actual salaries listed in job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average to provide a clear picture of average pay for human resources generalists by state.
Using these annual average salary figures, we ranked each state according to their average human resources generalist salary, with the state offering the highest salary at the top of our list.
Human Resources Generalist Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for human resources generalists?
The highest-paid state for human resources generalists is New York, with an average salary of $64,053 per year.
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What city pays human resources generalists the most?
Washington, DC offers the highest pay for human resources generalists, averaging $70,619 annually.
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What is the worst state for human resources generalists?
The state with the lowest average salary for human resources generalists is Oklahoma, with an average salary of $40,746 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
