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Generalist vs director of human resources

The differences between generalists and directors of human resources can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a generalist and a director of human resources. Additionally, a director of human resources has an average salary of $100,601, which is higher than the $46,518 average annual salary of a generalist.

The top three skills for a generalist include sales floor, store sales and customer loyalty. The most important skills for a director of human resources are performance management, HRIS, and employee engagement.

Generalist vs director of human resources overview

GeneralistDirector Of Human Resources
Yearly salary$46,518$100,601
Hourly rate$22.36$48.37
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs8,58546,924
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4747
Years of experience66

What does a generalist do?

A generalist, also known as a human resource generalist, is responsible for overseeing the operations in a human resource department, focusing on employees' welfare and working conditions. They are primarily involved in the hiring and laying off processes among employees, handing training and benefits programs, and coordinating with every department in the company. Furthermore, a generalist must perform administrative tasks that mostly revolve around producing reports and processing paperwork, conducting research and analysis, and responding to correspondence.

What does a director of human resources do?

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.

Generalist vs director of human resources salary

Generalists and directors of human resources have different pay scales, as shown below.

GeneralistDirector Of Human Resources
Average salary$46,518$100,601
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $72,000Between $68,000 And $147,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaMcKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between generalist and director of human resources education

There are a few differences between a generalist and a director of human resources in terms of educational background:

GeneralistDirector Of Human Resources
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Generalist vs director of human resources demographics

Here are the differences between generalists' and directors of human resources' demographics:

GeneralistDirector Of Human Resources
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 37.8% Female, 62.2%Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage18%18%

Differences between generalist and director of human resources duties and responsibilities

Generalist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and maintain PBX and VoIP phone systems at multiple locations.
  • Manage multiple lab projects for the implementation of new lab analyzers as well as LIS functionality.
  • Plan, install and manage new locations build outs with complete VPN connectivity and VOIP utilization for the multiple locations.
  • Manage UAB and HSF faculty recruitment, staffing needs, terminations, compensation, records management, employee relations and retention.
  • Manage data process flow to ensure employee timekeeping, attendance and payroll objectives are effectively and efficiently maintain.
  • Perform chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis, hematology, and blood bank laboratory tests, equipment calibration and quality assurance reports.
  • Show more

Director of human resources example responsibilities.

  • Recruit, negotiate new benefit contracts, manage compensation budget with department managers, process and oversee payroll.
  • Develop a structure interview process, implement online background investigation, integrity surveying applications, and manage the HRIS system.
  • Adopt mediation as a prefer means of reduce cost employee dispute resolution.
  • Design performance management training program and develop and deliver sexual harassment and EEO training to production show staff.
  • Maintain affirmative action and OSHA documentation.
  • Lead responsibility for all employment litigation and administrative charges.
  • Show more

Generalist vs director of human resources skills

Common generalist skills
  • Sales Floor, 21%
  • Store Sales, 17%
  • Customer Loyalty, 14%
  • Sales Growth, 12%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Processing Customer Transactions, 4%
Common director of human resources skills
  • Performance Management, 8%
  • HRIS, 5%
  • Employee Engagement, 4%
  • Payroll Processing, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Succession Planning, 4%

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