Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we have updated the details on human resource specialist salaries by state for the United States as of 2026:
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New Jersey boasts the highest human resource specialist salary at $68,216.
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Arkansas has the lowest average human resource specialist salary, which is $36,692.
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The national average salary for human resource specialists is $53,143.
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The national hourly pay for human resource specialists stands at $25.55.
For more detailed insights, you can read about our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a critical factor for job seekers across demographics. Many individuals inquire: how much do human resource specialists earn in my area?
While individual salaries can vary based on specific roles and locations, we provide comprehensive data on average salaries for human resource specialists by state and seniority level. Although your city may differ from the state average, these figures offer a clear guideline for what to expect.
Currently, New Jersey leads the country in terms of salary for human resource specialists.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for human resource specialist salaries:
Let’s delve into the full ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Human Resource Specialists By State
| Rank | State | Average Human Resource Specialist Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $68,216 | $45,000 | $101,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $66,202 | $43,000 | $100,000 |
| 3 | New York | $62,852 | $42,000 | $93,000 |
| 4 | Maryland | $62,849 | $41,000 | $94,000 |
| 5 | Virginia | $62,795 | $41,000 | $94,000 |
| 6 | Delaware | $62,490 | $41,000 | $93,000 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $62,447 | $42,000 | $91,000 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $61,827 | $42,000 | $89,000 |
| 9 | Alaska | $60,073 | $46,000 | $78,000 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $59,320 | $40,000 | $85,000 |
| 11 | California | $58,827 | $38,000 | $89,000 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $58,792 | $39,000 | $88,000 |
| 13 | Oregon | $53,657 | $35,000 | $81,000 |
| 14 | Michigan | $53,277 | $35,000 | $79,000 |
| 15 | Vermont | $52,352 | $36,000 | $74,000 |
| 16 | Illinois | $51,815 | $34,000 | $76,000 |
| 17 | Colorado | $51,656 | $35,000 | $74,000 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $51,512 | $35,000 | $74,000 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $51,218 | $35,000 | $73,000 |
| 20 | Ohio | $50,713 | $33,000 | $76,000 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $49,855 | $34,000 | $72,000 |
| 22 | Texas | $49,582 | $33,000 | $72,000 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $49,363 | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $48,208 | $32,000 | $71,000 |
| 25 | Indiana | $48,178 | $32,000 | $71,000 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $47,934 | $31,000 | $72,000 |
| 27 | Idaho | $47,271 | $31,000 | $70,000 |
| 28 | Kansas | $46,963 | $32,000 | $67,000 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $46,915 | $32,000 | $67,000 |
| 30 | Maine | $46,911 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $45,737 | $30,000 | $67,000 |
| 32 | Georgia | $45,707 | $31,000 | $66,000 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $45,705 | $31,000 | $67,000 |
| 34 | Nevada | $45,566 | $30,000 | $68,000 |
| 35 | Arizona | $44,566 | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $44,547 | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| 37 | Utah | $44,210 | $29,000 | $65,000 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $43,975 | $33,000 | $58,000 |
| 39 | Iowa | $43,637 | $29,000 | $63,000 |
| 40 | Missouri | $43,548 | $29,000 | $63,000 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $43,397 | $29,000 | $63,000 |
| 42 | Alabama | $42,930 | $29,000 | $62,000 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $42,287 | $29,000 | $61,000 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $42,202 | $29,000 | $61,000 |
| 45 | Montana | $41,838 | $28,000 | $61,000 |
| 46 | Florida | $41,767 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $41,272 | $28,000 | $60,000 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $39,209 | $27,000 | $56,000 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,172 | $26,000 | $57,000 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $36,692 | $25,000 | $53,000 |
Methodology: Human Resource Specialist Salary By State
To provide a clearer picture of human resource specialist salaries by state, Zippia has gathered data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We supplement this information with actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to generate the average pay for human resource specialists by state.
We rank states based on these average annual salary figures, with the state showing the highest salary receiving the highest ranking.
Human Resource Specialist Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for human resource specialists?
The highest-paid state for human resource specialists is New Jersey, with an average salary of $68,216 per year.
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What city pays human resource specialists the most?
Washington, DC, offers the highest average salary for human resource specialists at $84,544 per year.
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What is the worst state for human resource specialists?
The lowest-paying state for human resource specialists is Arkansas, with an average salary of $36,692 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.
