Human relations manager vs human resources business partner

The differences between human relations managers and human resources business partners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a human relations manager and a human resources business partner. Additionally, a human resources business partner has an average salary of $86,363, which is higher than the $79,917 average annual salary of a human relations manager.

The top three skills for a human relations manager include human resources, conflict resolution and performance management. The most important skills for a human resources business partner are employee engagement, HRBP, and succession planning.

Human relations manager vs human resources business partner overview

	Human Relations Manager	Human Resources Business Partner
Yearly salary	$79,917	$86,363
Hourly rate	$38.42	$41.52
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	56,647	103,520
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a human relations manager do?

A human relations manager is sometimes called a labor relations manager. Their job is to create a positive work environment. They are responsible for designing benefit packages for employees and representing workers. They promote diversity in the workplace. They may also be tasked with creating and implementing strategies to improve employee's performance and resolving conflicts.

What does a human resources business partner do?

Human resource (HR) business partners' primary job is to ensure that business objectives are aligned with the management and employees within an organization. They typically focus more on developing HR strategy than implementing the company policies. They often work with individual business units, and their work is related to the company's current and future success. HR business partners are also responsible for providing performance management guidance, developing contract terms for new employees, transfers, and promotions, and providing advice on business units.

Human relations manager vs human resources business partner salary

Human relations managers and human resources business partners have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Human Relations Manager	Human Resources Business Partner
Average salary	$79,917	$86,363
Salary range	Between $58,000 And $109,000	Between $62,000 And $119,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Ropes & Gray
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between human relations manager and human resources business partner education

There are a few differences between a human relations manager and a human resources business partner in terms of educational background:

	Human Relations Manager	Human Resources Business Partner
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Northwestern University	Northwestern University

Human relations manager vs human resources business partner demographics

Here are the differences between human relations managers' and human resources business partners' demographics:

	Human Relations Manager	Human Resources Business Partner
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2%	Male, 28.1% Female, 71.9%
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, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	18%	18%

Differences between human relations manager and human resources business partner duties and responsibilities

Human relations manager example responsibilities.

Manage and publish several cost-savings models for Sr. level management.
Implement a company conversion to a bi-weekly payroll to reduce payroll fees.
Prepare semi-monthly payroll and coordinate changes to employee status to payroll vendor, reconcile and record payroll in QuickBooks.
Provide and consistently document corporate-wide decisions in keeping with best practices and to minimize risk and litigation in employee relations situations.
Conduct administration of severance packages, retirement information, benefit and cobra information amid schedule reductions and termination.

Human resources business partner example responsibilities.

Manage the ACA with regard to variable hour employees to avoid fines and penalties.
Lead effort to build safety awareness and implement plans to improve working conditions while adhering to OSHA requirements.
Manage and audit payroll ensuring accurate timekeeping, processing adjustments, and investigating payroll discrepancies.
Manage HRIS system migration to ExponentHR technology platform with full employee/manager self-service eliminating multiple homegrown systems and one service provider.
Report to the SVP of human resources.
Revamp unemployment claims process and increase HRBP completion rate and decrease dollar loss due to incomplete and fraudulent claims.

Human relations manager vs human resources business partner skills

Common human relations manager skills

Human Resources, 18%
Conflict Resolution, 13%
Performance Management, 13%
Employee Development, 6%
Related Training, 6%
HRIS, 5%

Common human resources business partner skills

Employee Engagement, 8%
HRBP, 6%
Succession Planning, 6%
Workforce Planning, 5%
Business Objectives, 4%
HRIS, 4%

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Human Relations Manager
Human Relations Manager vs Human Resources Business Partner

Updated January 8, 2025

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