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Job outlook for human resource advisors in the United States
Human resource advisor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected human resource advisor job growth rate is 7% from 2018-2028.
About 12,600 new jobs for human resource advisors are projected over the next decade.
Human resource advisor salaries have increased 13% for human resource advisors in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,789 human resource advisors currently employed in the United States.
There are 84,607 active human resource advisor job openings in the US.
The average human resource advisor salary is $78,852.
Are human resource advisor jobs in demand?
Human resource advisor job and salary trends over time
Human resource advisor jobs over time
Human resource advisor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,789 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,205 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 9,099 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 8,440 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 8,012 | 0.00% |
Average human resource advisor salary over time
Human resource advisor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $78,852 | $37.91 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $75,925 | $36.50 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $73,700 | $35.43 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $71,632 | $34.44 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $69,544 | $33.43 | +2.4% |
Human resource advisor jobs by state
Most common states for human resource advisors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 330 | 48% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 134 | 23% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 147 | 19% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 171 | 18% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 959 | 17% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 601 | 17% |
| 7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 520 | 17% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 222 | 17% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 124 | 17% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 103 | 17% |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 918 | 16% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 171 | 16% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,024 | 15% |
| 14 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,197 | 14% |
| 15 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,697 | 13% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 737 | 13% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 256 | 13% |
| 18 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 116 | 13% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 868 | 12% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 156 | 12% |
Most common cities for human resource advisors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor | 2 | 6% | $75,587 |
| 2 | Pocatello | 2 | 4% | $65,267 |
| 3 | Chicago Heights | 1 | 3% | $79,877 |
| 4 | Mountain View | 2 | 2% | $81,235 |
| 5 | Bentonville | 1 | 2% | $72,457 |
| 6 | Marietta | 1 | 2% | $81,856 |
| 7 | Moline | 1 | 2% | $78,009 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $64,108 |
| 9 | Dearborn | 1 | 1% | $68,539 |
| 10 | Pomona | 1 | 1% | $71,417 |
| 11 | Jacksonville | 2 | 0% | $66,888 |
| 12 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $69,670 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $71,717 |
| 14 | New York | 1 | 0% | $98,488 |
| 15 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $90,188 |
Human Resource Advisor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of human resource advisor experts
University of Scranton
Coastal Carolina University
California State University - Fullerton
Carthage College
Manchester University
Neumann University
Utah State University
Land O Lakes
Temple University
University of Richmond
University of South Carolina - Columbia
Grand Valley State University
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University
Zones, LLC
University of New Hampshire
NC State University
What Human Resource Advisor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Ale Kennedy: The majority of time is spent listening to customers and providing service, whether it is hiring, classification, training, and/or a difficult employee. Human Resources is relied on heavily to provide guidance during difficult situations and through processes.
What general advice would you give to a Human Resource Advisor?
Shannon Ahrndt: I would say don't be afraid to ask questions to learn more on the job. Lots of employees are afraid to look stupid but asking questions shows curiosity and eagerness to learn more about the field. Don't be worried if you don't get your dream job or salary straight out of college...you need to start somewhere and you never know what opportunities might unfold by taking a position - you have lots of years to work and it's common to change what you want to do as you grow in your career. Make sure to network with coworkers and try to find a mentor. Learning from someone you look up to who is a few stages ahead of you in your career can be invaluable.
What will help Human Resource Advisors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Paul Datti PhD, CRC, HS-BCP: Graduates of The University of Scranton’s Counseling and Human Services program, as well as other similar educational programs, tend to have significant success upon graduation. At Scranton, typically about half to two-thirds of our graduates go on to graduate school, mainly in professional counseling or social work, but some also go on to programs in public administration, applied behavior analysis, child life care, and even law school. The remainder tend to soon get jobs in the field, in positions such as behavioral health technician, community health assistant, rehabilitation aide, child advocate, psychiatric or mental health technician, social work assistant, and more. According to OnetOnline and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this area are expected to exponentially grow over the years and are considered “bright outlook” occupations.
What Human Resource Advisor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Leann Mischel PhD: Network, Network, Network. Don't just add people to LinkedIn, be sure to stay in touch with them. Send them updates once in a while, ask how they are doing, recognize their successes, try to get together occasionally, in general, find a way to stay on their radar without going overboard. Even the people you think can't help you might be your biggest supporter and ally in the future. Always make good impressions.
What will help Human Resource Advisors increase their earning potential?
Leann Mischel PhD: The soft skills will always be important. Communication, teamwork, and leadership skills should always be honed. In addition to those, it is important to keep up with technology and AI. It is no surprise that both of these are changing at lightning speed. Graduates need to keep in mind that these will make their jobs easier, not take their jobs from them. Utilize them to increase the quality and quantity of your performance and increase your efficiency.
Dr. April Bullock PhD
ChairCalifornia State University - Fullerton
Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
What will help Human Resource Advisors increase their earning potential?
Dr. April Bullock PhD: THE BEST WAY TO MAXIMIZE YOUR SALARY POTENTIAL IS TO BE ALERT TO OPPORTUNITES TO ADVANCE YOUR SKILLS AHEAD OF DEMAND, AND TO NOT SHORTSELL YOURSELF AND YOUR SKILLS. LIBERAL ARTS ARE OFTEN THOUGHT OF AS IRRELEVANT IN THE WORKPLACE, AS A MAJOR THAT HAS NO PRACTICAL APPLICATION. YOUR ADAPTABILITY, CULTURAL AWARENESS, AND BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD ARE KEY SKILLS. THE SKILLS IN CRITICAL READING, CLEAR WRITING AND CONFIDENT PUBLIC SPEAKING THAT YOU'VE LEARNED IN YOUR LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION CAN SERVE YOU VERY WELL IN MANY CAREER SETTINGS.
Dr. Stephanie Mitchell
Professor of HistoryCarthage College
History
What general advice would you give to a Human Resource Advisor?
Dr. Stephanie Mitchell: A better question to ask yourself is: How much money do I need to give a life with dignity to myself and the people I love who will depend on my salary? Then, how can I earn that much money? A quick look at different fields will give you a sense of average salaries in different parts of our economy, and that kind of information should be a variable to incorporate as you pursue your vocational exploration and discernment. It's not the only variable, but it's an important one. Others include whether you are good at that kind of work, whether you enjoy it, and whether you think it serves the common good, which is another way of asking whether you think you would find the work meaningful. At Carthage, we know that earning enough money is an important part of living a good life, but it isn't the only part. A purposeful life is the one you will find is worth living.
What general advice would you give to a Human Resource Advisor?
Dr. Magdy Akladios Ph.D., PE, CSP, CPE, CSHM: Be a people person. Soft skills are extremely important.
Tim McKenna-Buchanan,
Assessment Coordinator and Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO)Manchester University
Communication And Media Studies
What general advice would you give to a Human Resource Advisor?
Tim McKenna-Buchanan,: You need to do your research and you need to negotiate. You will not always succeed in negotiation, but even if you get a little bit of a raise, it is likely more than you will get in an annual raise. When you have an interview for job, try and look up on a search engine what others in that field or for that organization are making, and use that as a ballpark figure for what you will be offered. When you get your salary offer, do not immediately accept, ask them about benefits, vacation, or anything else that is important to you, and then ask when they need a decision and say respectfully you contact them shortly. Then compare the salary they offered to what you wanted to make and go back to them with a salary offer and explanation for why. If you cannot think of an explanation for why you deserve a larger salary, then you are not in a place to negotiate. Additionally, I always say ask for a little more in salary than what you want because in a perfect world they may give you what you ask, but often they will counter and hopefully that is where you wanted your salary to fall. Also, note you can negotiate for things beyond salary (as some places that cannot budge) consider start date, vacation time, remote work or flexible schedule, professional development funds, or some organizations may consider tuition reimbursement. Overall, do not sell yourself short. I recognize some jobs may be for the paycheck but when you enter your career and if an organization wants you, they will want to invest in you and that often leads to employee retention.
Robert Till Ph.D.
Professor EmeritusNeumann University
Management Department
What soft skills should all Human Resource Advisors possess?
Robert Till Ph.D.: When considering key soft skills for an entry-level HR position, good communications skills are of paramount importance. All of our graduates who were contacted highlighted this factor. Another important characteristic mentioned by most graduates is integrity. When working in HR, you are privy to sensitive information, including compensation, evaluations, background information, etc. As such, being trustworthy is critical. Other soft skills highlighted are time management, organization, problem-solving, and attention to detail.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Human Resource Advisors?
Robert Till Ph.D.: Employers expect that you will be proficient in Microsoft office, plus exposure to other HR-related software is important. Another hard skill that is highlighted frequently is familiarity with the employment law: HR professionals must be aware of EEO laws, ERISA, FMLA, Fair pay, and healthcare regulations. Finally, a few graduates highlighted the importance of basic financial skills, such as budgeting, forecasting, and basic statistics.
What skills will help Human Resource Advisors earn the most?
Robert Till Ph.D.: When considering what areas of HR offer the greatest compensation, you need to think about supply and demand. Typically, if you have quantitative or computer skills, your value increases. A simple search of HR jobs suggests that Compensation and Benefits is an area that does pay well.
The graduates felt their CIS course and their HR Courses were helpful to their success, but they would have liked exposure to HR software currently being used in the field and greater exposure to forms typically used in HR departments.
Bruce Boucher
Lecturer and Director, Professional Master of Human Resource ProgramUtah State University
Management, Master of Human Resources Departments
What skills stand out on Human Resource Advisor resumes?
Bruce Boucher: Actually working in HR, having additional credentials like an MHR, SPHR, and having specific experiences in specific areas of HR.
What soft skills should all Human Resource Advisors possess?
Bruce Boucher: Being an Entrepreneur of Talent, being comfortable working in teams, enlisting trust through actions, being empathetic.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Human Resource Advisors?
Bruce Boucher: HAVE to know the HR basics. Experience with HRIS, Benefits renewals, pay, etc. REALLY know coaching and a variety of tools available to aid the business and the human capital.
What skills will help Human Resource Advisors earn the most?
Bruce Boucher: Being a legitimate business partner and being concerned for the overall welfare of the business. Wearing well and helping over time. Too many young consultants who know 1 or 2 things well and not much more.
Philomena Morrissey Satre
Director of Diversity Equity & Inclusion and External Strategic PartnershipsLand O Lakes
What soft skills should all Human Resource Advisors possess?
Philomena Morrissey Satre: Inquisitive, ability to operate within ambiguity, strong customer service aptitude, strong cultural competency skills, agility, and adaptability to change.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Human Resource Advisors?
Philomena Morrissey Satre: Ability to learn and work with HR Systems like payrolls systems: HRIS and Learning and Development Platforms. Can work effectively with data, understanding and applying knowledge, juggling multiple priorities, and problem-solving.
What skills will help Human Resource Advisors earn the most?
Philomena Morrissey Satre: Coachability: listen and receive feedback, communicate effectively, draw on Internship or prior job experience, show that you can manage multiple priorities, and willingness to learn and continue developing skills and manage multiple priorities. Additionally, care and compassion for all. Willingness to do what it takes to get the job done even when it may not be your favorite task or responsibility. Lastly, an innovative mindset!
What soft skills should all Human Resource Advisors possess?
Daniel Goldberg: The ability to communicate effectively, openly, empathically, and directly (without ambiguity) while making sure members within the organization understand their roles.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Human Resource Advisors?
John Barr: The most important hard/technical skills are experience and training in such areas as workplace investigations, overseeing various employee programs and documentation related to leaving, handbooks, job descriptions, wages, benefits, hiring, and terminations, developing a diverse workforce, and training in the future of the workforce.
Anthony Nyberg
Department Chair and Professor, Program Director, Master of Human ResourcesUniversity of South Carolina - Columbia
Management Department
What skills stand out on Human Resource Advisor resumes?
Anthony Nyberg: The most important skill for HR managers as they enter the workforce is professionalism (and everything that goes into this, including being on time, doing what one says they will do, etc.)
This shows up on resumes by having held responsible positions for an appropriate period, leading to positive recommendations from prior employers, teachers, leaders, etc. The item that stands out most on a resume is a strong HR internship.
What skills will help Human Resource Advisors earn the most?
Anthony Nyberg: The skills that lead, in the short term, to the highest earnings involve analytical skills. The skills that lead to the highest earnings over time include professionalism and strong interpersonal skills. If you can master both, you have created the foundation for a very strong career in HR.
Dan Wiljanen Ph.D.
Affiliate of Practice Professor, SHRM Student Chapter AdviserGrand Valley State University
Seidman College of Business
What soft skills should all Human Resource Advisors possess?
Dan Wiljanen Ph.D.: Soft Skills
-Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
-Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
-Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
-Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
-Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
-Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
-Coordination - Adjusting actions concerning others' actions.
-Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
-Competencies - Blend of skills, abilities, and knowledge
-Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
-Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
-Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
-Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
-Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and considerable variety in the workplace.
-Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
-Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and understanding and helpful on the job.
-Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone and being personally connected with others on the job.
-Analytical Thinking - The job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
-Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Human Resource Advisors?
Dan Wiljanen Ph.D.: Knowledge of the HR Discipline
-Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
-Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
-Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, government regulations, and executive orders.
-Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for training design, implementation, and evaluation.
Technology Skills
-Enterprise resource planning ERP software
-Human resources software - Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS)
-Office suite software
-Project management software
-Web page creation and editing software
-Word processing software
J. Adam Shoemaker Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Management & Human ResourcesSaint Leo University
Management & Operations Department
What skills stand out on Human Resource Advisor resumes?
J. Adam Shoemaker Ph.D.: First and foremost, communication skills - this is what you will see somewhere on every HR coordinator job posting. But there's a difference between simply saying you have "excellent communication skills" and providing evidence!
In your resume, be sure to highlight how you used your communication skills to get things done in your previous job titles. Write something like: "Effectively communicated complex plans and new initiatives verbally and in writing to diverse teams across the organization." This tells me that this candidate knows how to talk to and write to people in very different roles in ways that they will understand.
What's a good job out of college for Human Resource Advisors?
Dr. Sheri Bias: From an HR perspective, a good job might be a generalist type of role. This would give broad exposure to a variety of different HR functions within an organization which could equip the individual for moving into a managerial position in the future or possibly going toward a specialist role depending on individual interest and desire. Saint Leo does offer an internship in HR as part of the degree program which gives students the opportunity to get hands-on, real-world experience to apply the HR theories and principles learned in the classroom.
How have salaries changed over time for Human Resource Advisors?
Adrianne Keeler: Salaries in our field have gotten more and more competitive, and have continued to rise. Not only with the base wage, but really with the commission side of earnings. To remain a competitive employer in our industry, companies have made the commissions uncapped and thrown other incentives into the wages as well.
Jonathan Nash Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of AccountingUniversity of New Hampshire
Paul College of Business and Economics
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Human Resource Advisor job market given the pandemic?
Jonathan Nash Ph.D.: In most years accounting firms have a visible presence on campus. They host networking sessions, resume reviews, and other events promoting professional development. Because of the pandemic firms now offer virtual sessions to help students gain insight into this profession and firm culture. Similarly, interviews, internships, and leadership training events have all moved online.
Despite these changes, employment opportunities have remained strong. Firms need accounting information to make decisions irrespective of macro-level economic conditions. As a result, demand for accounting majors is fairly inelastic (in the press accounting is often referred to as a "recession proof" majorwww.cnbc.com. Initial data suggests our placement rate for this year will be in the mid-90's, consistent with prior years, and salaries remain high (median starting salary of approximately $60,000) relative to most other majors.
Thomas Byrnes
Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Marketing Faculty Adviser, American Marketing AssociationNC State University
Department of Business Management
What's a day at work look like for a Human Resource Advisor?
Thomas Byrnes: Obviously, there is quite a bit of "screen time". Zoom meetings, virtual client meetings, peer team meetings, etc. are probably what they will be spending quite a bit of time with. So, it is important that a recent graduate is comfortable with electronic calendaring. It is important though that they have a reasonable work-life balance. They need to ensure that they build time into their schedules for breaks which could include lunch breaks as well as time to physically complete some exercise. It is vital that these graduates can find a work place in their home environment that is relatively free from distractions.
What soft skills should all Human Resource Advisors possess?
Thomas Byrnes: Obviously, employers are seeking candidates from certain disciplines such as marketing, finance, supply chain, accounting, etc. But, what distinguishes the candidates is their enthusiasm, passion and strong interest in the company they are interviewing with. There is an expression that I have heard from several recruiters: "we hire for attitude and train for ability". It is vital that candidates have a thorough understanding of the company they are interviewing with, that they come prepared with questions for the recruiter and show a strong interest in working for that company. Obviously, the students have to demonstrate strong organizational skills, excellent communication skills, listen well to the questions they are asked and simple things such as "eye contact". This is important even in virtual interviews!