Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of human resources managers that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of human resources managers:
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Human Resources Vice President is the highest-paid type of human resources manager with an average salary of $169,647 and an average hourly rate of $81.56.
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The second highest-paying type of human resources manager is senior human resources manager, with an average salary of $102,806.
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The average human resources manager salary is $80,442 per year, and the average hourly pay is $38.67.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a human resources manager, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of human resources managers are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of human resources managers:
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Human Resources Vice President
Average Salary: $169,647
Human resources (HR) vice presidents play a vital role in the effective administration and operation of an organization’s HR department. These executives are responsible for directing an organization’s staffing goals and developing strategies to support the company’s profitable and productive business operations. HR vice presidents also perform other duties and responsibilities, including planning payroll and employee benefits, facilitating the enforcement of standardized HR processes, and recommending new measures for employee performance evaluations. The skills and qualifications for this position include previous experience as an HR director, strong leadership skills, and in-depth knowledge of HR processes.
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Senior Human Resources Manager
Average Salary: $102,806
As a senior human resources manager, you are responsible for the overall management of human resources involving talent acquisition, performance management, and training and development. You will also handle compensation and benefits, employee services and industrial relations, and personnel administration to ensure a sustainable complement to the company’s business operation requirements. It is also part of your role to review, plan, and provide general direction on employee relations programs and activities. The senior human resources manager also does an adequate review of company rules, regulations, and code of conduct and ensures the implementation of employee training and development programs.
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Human Resources Lead
Average Salary: $102,531
A Human Resource Leader is responsible for achieving set goals for the HR department. Their duties include implementing strategies as well as recruiting, training, and keeping highly skilled employees.
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Director Of Human Resources
Average Salary: $100,601
A human resources director is responsible for managing the overall operations of the human resources department, ensuring smooth operations while meeting the company’s goals of successful profitability and services. Human resources directors’ duties include providing staff consultation, addressing staffing concerns, managing compensation and benefits plans, reviewing plans for training and development programs, and reporting future actions to the management. A human resources director must have excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills to help lead the business to its growth and development.
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Human Resource Officer
Average Salary: $89,540
A human resources officer is typically in charge of managing and handling the employment operations in the company, including the payroll and training systems. Their responsibilities revolve around participating in advertising job openings, interviewing applicants, training and managing new employees, and devising programs that will help them learn about the policies and regulations of the company. Furthermore, a human resources officer is also responsible for managing employee data, such as personal information and work attendance, processing payroll, and handling any issues or concerns.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various human resources manager that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Human Resources Managers
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for human resources managers.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Human Resources Manager Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid human resources manager job?
The highest-paid human resources manager job is a human resources vice president. Human Resources Vice Presidents earn an average salary of $169,647, which is $ 81.56 hourly.
Human resources (HR) vice presidents play a vital role in the effective administration and operation of an organization’s HR department. These executives are responsible for directing an organization’s staffing goals and developing strategies to support the company’s profitable and productive business operations. HR vice presidents also perform other duties and responsibilities, including planning payroll and employee benefits, facilitating the enforcement of standardized HR processes, and recommending new measures for employee performance evaluations. The skills and qualifications for this position include previous experience as an HR director, strong leadership skills, and in-depth knowledge of HR processes.
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What is a good salary for a human resources manager?
A good salary for a human resources manager is $80,442 or more. The average human resources manager salary is $80,442, so those making at least $80,442 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average human resources manager salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a human resources manager, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $80,442 average, as this includes all human resources managers of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Human Resources Manager jobs pay well?
Yes, human resources manager jobs pay well. As in any industry, some human resources manager jobs pay better than others, but the average human resources manager salary of $80,442 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many human resources manager jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of human resources managers earning $0 a year on average.
Human Resources Managers’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a human resources manager. Do your research on the going rate for a human resources manager in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do human resources managers get paid the most?
Human Resources Managers get paid the most in Washington. In Washington, human resources managers earn an average annual salary of $95,730 and an average hourly wage of $46.02.
Following WA, the states with the highest-paid human resources managers are New York, Nevada, and California, with average annual salaries of $90,216, $82,410, and $89,937 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid human resources manager salaries are:
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Sacramento, CA – $99,996
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Redmond, WA – $96,270
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New York, NY – $90,405
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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.
