Can you be an HR assistant without a degree?

No, you can't be an HR assistant without a degree. To apply for a human resources assistant job, you will usually need at least an associate's degree. You should have one of the following degrees when you apply:

How long does it take to become an HR administrator?

It takes at least four years to become an HR administrator. Many colleges and universities now offer degree programs in human resources management. A degree in business or a related area of study is also acceptable, so students have some flexibility when choosing a degree to pursue. The programs cover topics in actual work scenarios such as labor relations, conflict management, and employment laws.

Is administrative assistant the same as HR?

No, an administrative assistant is not the same as a human resources professional. Human resources assistants are often responsible for collecting and organizing employee paperwork, such as job applications, employment contracts, and benefits forms.

What skills are needed to be a human resources assistant?

Administrative skills and human resource skills are needed to be a human resources assistant. The human resources assistant helps with the administration of the day-to-day operations of a company's human resources department.

What is a human resources administrative assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Denise Barton,

Thomas Byrnes

A human resources administrative assistant supports the HR department of an organization. They handle administrative tasks such as maintaining employee records, scheduling interviews, and organizing training sessions. An HR administrative assistant also assists with recruiting and onboarding new employees, managing benefits programs, and ensuring compliance with employment laws and regulations. They are often the first point of contact for employees and job applicants, providing information and assistance with HR-related inquiries.

What general advice would you give to a human resources administrative assistant?

Denise Barton

Senior Professor of Human Resources, Wake Technical Community College

I would advise graduates beginning their careers to earn a human resources certification from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Both organizations are internationally recognized for high-quality HR knowledge-based exams.

ScoreHuman Resources Administrative AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $37,044

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.0

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.61%

Asian 7.70%

Black or African American 10.43%

Hispanic or Latino 19.43%

Unknown 5.13%

White 56.70%

Gender

female 90.73%

male 9.27%

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

8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.0

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a human resources administrative assistant?

Pros

Opportunity to learn about various HR functions
Exposure to different departments and roles within the organization
Potential for career growth within the HR field
Opportunity to develop strong organizational skills
Being part of a team that ensures compliance with laws and regulations

Cons

Often dealing with sensitive or confidential information
Possibility of conflict resolution issues between employees
The need to stay up-to-date with constantly changing laws and regulations
The need to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail at all times
Often requires sitting for extended periods which can lead to health problems

Key steps to become a human resources administrative assistant

Explore human resources administrative assistant education requirements

Most common human resources administrative assistant degrees

Bachelor's

51.2 %

Associate

24.8 %

High School Diploma

11.2 %

Start to develop specific human resources administrative assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	11.12%
Data Entry	9.78%
Background Checks	7.00%
PowerPoint	5.34%
HRIS	4.25%

Complete relevant human resources administrative assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New human resources administrative assistants 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 a human resources administrative assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real human resources administrative assistant resumes.

Research human resources administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage unemployment verification process and enter employee changes into PeopleSoft.
Labor hours, PTO, accident reports and training records are all track through data entry and issuance of reports.
Handle and make necessary changes to payroll processes/system daily by using KRONOS.
Enter and balance payroll, certify payroll and send ACH file to bank.

Prepare your human resources administrative assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your human resources administrative assistant 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 a human resources administrative assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable human resources administrative assistant resume templates

Build a professional human resources administrative assistant 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 human resources administrative assistant resume.

Apply for human resources administrative assistant jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a human resources administrative assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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

Average human resources administrative assistant salary

The average human resources administrative assistant salary in the United States is $37,044 per year or $18 per hour. Human resources administrative assistant salaries range between $27,000 and $49,000 per year.

Average human resources administrative assistant salary

$37,044 Yearly

$17.81 hourly

How do human resources administrative assistants rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Human resources administrative assistant reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Pros

The variety in the work.

Cons

Can be stressful if one is not organized and able to shift priorities when needed.

What is a human resources administrative assistant and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a human resources administrative assistant?

What are the pros and cons of being a human resources administrative assistant?

Human resources administrative assistant career paths

Key steps to become a human resources administrative assistant

Explore human resources administrative assistant education requirements

Most common human resources administrative assistant degrees

Start to develop specific human resources administrative assistant skills

Complete relevant human resources administrative assistant training and internships

Research human resources administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

Prepare your human resources administrative assistant resume

Choose from 10+ customizable human resources administrative assistant resume templates

Apply for human resources administrative assistant jobs

How did you land your first human resources administrative assistant job

Average human resources administrative assistant salary

How do human resources administrative assistants rate their job?

Human resources administrative assistant reviews

Human resources administrative assistant FAQs

Can you be an HR assistant without a degree?

How long does it take to become an HR administrator?

Is administrative assistant the same as HR?

What skills are needed to be a human resources assistant?

Search for human resources administrative assistant jobs

Human resources administrative assistant jobs by state