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What is an employee relations specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Magdy Akladios Ph.D., PE, CSP, CPE, CSHM

Employee relations specialists are key members of any HR department. Apart from playing an important role in workforce recruitment, they are responsible for managing human relations and interpersonal conflicts at the workplace.

As an employee relations specialist, you will conduct surveys and analyze employee data. But, perhaps, more importantly, you will provide counseling to staff members, helping them sort out workplace-related personal problems that might hinder their productivity.

You will arrange training opportunities for employees as well and manage their files and work-related documents. You will need a thorough insight into legislation regulating employment conditions within the company and in the larger context of the industry as well.

What general advice would you give to an employee relations specialist?

Dr. Magdy Akladios Ph.D., PE, CSP, CPE, CSHM

Professor & Department Chair, Website

Be a people person. Soft skills are extremely important.
ScoreEmployee Relations SpecialistUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $56,574

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.6

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.61%

Asian 7.65%

Black or African American 10.51%

Hispanic or Latino 18.14%

Unknown 5.12%

White 57.98%

Gender

female 69.39%

male 30.61%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress level
8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Employee relations specialist career paths

Key steps to become an employee relations specialist

  1. Explore employee relations specialist education requirements

    Most common employee relations specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.9 %

    Master's

    16.4 %

    Associate

    9.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific employee relations specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Performance Management6.40%
    Excellent Interpersonal5.40%
    Corrective Action5.37%
    Management System5.13%
    Customer Service5.10%
  3. Complete relevant employee relations specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New employee relations specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an employee relations specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real employee relations specialist resumes.
  4. Research employee relations specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and implement improvements to UK recruitment and inductions/orientation.
    • Gather and document information to achieve litigation free outcomes or successfully defend company.
    • Manage departmental restructuring & redundancy program for engineering operations across two UK locations.
    • Generate HRIS reports and manage personnel files, management information, and candidate data utilizing standardize reporting systems.
  5. Prepare your employee relations specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your employee relations specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an employee relations specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable employee relations specialist resume templates

    Build a professional employee relations specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your employee relations specialist resume.
    Employee Relations Specialist Resume
    Employee Relations Specialist Resume
    Employee Relations Specialist Resume
    Employee Relations Specialist Resume
    Employee Relations Specialist Resume
    Employee Relations Specialist Resume
    Employee Relations Specialist Resume
    Employee Relations Specialist Resume
    Employee Relations Specialist Resume
  6. Apply for employee relations specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an employee relations specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first employee relations specialist job

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Average employee relations specialist salary

The average employee relations specialist salary in the United States is $56,574 per year or $27 per hour. Employee relations specialist salaries range between $39,000 and $81,000 per year.

Average employee relations specialist salary
$56,574 Yearly
$27.20 hourly

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How do employee relations specialists rate their job?

4/5

Based on 1 ratings

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Employee relations specialist reviews

profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

communicating with employees

Cons

It is not much I don't like but the upset employees would be my biggest dislike.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Cons

The turnover that comes in the retail industry


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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