Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present updated data on director of human resources salaries across the United States for 2026:
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California has the highest director of human resources salary of $120,592.
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Kansas has the lowest director of human resources salary at $71,909.
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The national average salary for directors of human resources is $100,601.
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The national hourly pay for directors of human resources is $48.37.
You can read more about the specific methodology.
Background
In today’s job market, salary remains the most crucial factor for candidates when considering job opportunities. For directors of human resources, it’s essential to understand salary expectations in your area.
While many factors influence individual salaries, we provide data on the average salaries for directors of human resources by state and seniority level. Even though your local salary may vary, these averages offer a reliable benchmark for what to expect.
The state with the highest salary for directors of human resources in 2026? That would still be California.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for director of human resources salaries:
Let’s explore how we arrived at these figures and review a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Directors Of Human Resources By State
| Rank | State | Average Director Of Human Resources Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $120,592 | $78,000 | $184,000 |
| 2 | New York | $120,477 | $81,000 | $177,000 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $119,895 | $81,000 | $176,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $117,406 | $79,000 | $172,000 |
| 5 | Vermont | $116,592 | $78,000 | $173,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $113,994 | $77,000 | $168,000 |
| 7 | Nevada | $112,683 | $73,000 | $172,000 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $110,617 | $75,000 | $162,000 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $109,379 | $73,000 | $161,000 |
| 10 | Alaska | $108,697 | $74,000 | $159,000 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $108,175 | $73,000 | $159,000 |
| 12 | Delaware | $106,717 | $72,000 | $156,000 |
| 13 | Maine | $104,119 | $70,000 | $154,000 |
| 14 | Washington | $104,001 | $69,000 | $155,000 |
| 15 | Michigan | $100,315 | $69,000 | $145,000 |
| 16 | Virginia | $100,275 | $68,000 | $147,000 |
| 17 | Oregon | $99,387 | $66,000 | $149,000 |
| 18 | Maryland | $95,511 | $64,000 | $140,000 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $92,155 | $63,000 | $134,000 |
| 20 | Illinois | $91,713 | $64,000 | $130,000 |
| 21 | Ohio | $90,453 | $62,000 | $131,000 |
| 22 | Texas | $89,968 | $59,000 | $136,000 |
| 23 | Idaho | $89,281 | $60,000 | $132,000 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $88,320 | $64,000 | $120,000 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $88,207 | $60,000 | $129,000 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $87,600 | $61,000 | $125,000 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $86,538 | $66,000 | $113,000 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $86,337 | $60,000 | $122,000 |
| 29 | Montana | $85,968 | $60,000 | $123,000 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $85,773 | $61,000 | $119,000 |
| 31 | Arizona | $85,194 | $56,000 | $128,000 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $85,010 | $57,000 | $125,000 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $84,597 | $60,000 | $117,000 |
| 34 | Utah | $84,422 | $57,000 | $124,000 |
| 35 | Missouri | $83,514 | $59,000 | $117,000 |
| 36 | Colorado | $82,648 | $58,000 | $117,000 |
| 37 | Georgia | $81,621 | $55,000 | $119,000 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $80,430 | $56,000 | $115,000 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $80,171 | $56,000 | $114,000 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $79,849 | $52,000 | $121,000 |
| 41 | Indiana | $79,487 | $55,000 | $113,000 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $78,131 | $52,000 | $115,000 |
| 43 | Florida | $77,783 | $50,000 | $119,000 |
| 44 | Iowa | $77,398 | $55,000 | $108,000 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $76,785 | $53,000 | $109,000 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $76,733 | $54,000 | $107,000 |
| 47 | Alabama | $76,675 | $52,000 | $112,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $75,610 | $51,000 | $111,000 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $73,620 | $51,000 | $105,000 |
| 50 | Kansas | $71,909 | $50,000 | $101,000 |
Methodology: Director Of Human Resources Salary By State
To provide insights into director of human resources compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This information is supplemented with actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team calculates a weighted average of these inputs to offer an average pay figure for directors of human resources across states.
We ranked the states based on the average annual salary data for directors of human resources to identify the highest paying states.
Director Of Human Resources Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for directors of human resources?
The highest-paid state for directors of human resources is California, with an average salary of $120,592 per year.
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What city pays directors of human resources the most?
San Francisco, CA pays directors of human resources the highest, with an average salary of $133,765 per year.
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What is the worst state for directors of human resources?
The worst state for directors of human resources is Kansas, with an average salary of $71,909 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.
