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The differences between directors of human resources and human resources generalists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a director of human resources and a human resources generalist. Additionally, a director of human resources has an average salary of $100,601, which is higher than the $56,159 average annual salary of a human resources generalist.
The top three skills for a director of human resources include performance management, HRIS and employee engagement. The most important skills for a human resources generalist are HRIS, performance management, and customer service.
| Director Of Human Resources | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Yearly salary | $100,601 | $56,159 |
| Hourly rate | $48.37 | $27.00 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 46,924 | 44,365 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 47 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A human resources generalist is responsible for monitoring the human resources policies and procedures, making adjustments as needed to align with the company's goals and objectives. Duties of a human resources generalist also include improving employee relations system, organizing compliance and knowledge training, reviewing benefit plans, managing compensation inquiries, assisting in recruitment and staffing needs, communicating with department heads in employees' performance reviews, and storing employees' files for reference. A human resource generalist must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to address issues concerning the company and employees' welfare.
Directors of human resources and human resources generalists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Human Resources | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Average salary | $100,601 | $56,159 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $147,000 | Between $41,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a director of human resources and a human resources generalist in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Human Resources | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between directors of human resources' and human resources generalists' demographics:
| Director Of Human Resources | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Average age | 47 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0% | Male, 20.5% Female, 79.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 18% | 9% |