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Human resources associate vs generalist

The differences between human resources associates and generalists 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 resources associate and a generalist. Additionally, a human resources associate has an average salary of $56,636, which is higher than the $46,518 average annual salary of a generalist.

The top three skills for a human resources associate include customer service, HRIS and I-9. The most important skills for a generalist are sales floor, store sales, and customer loyalty.

Human resources associate vs generalist overview

Human Resources AssociateGeneralist
Yearly salary$56,636$46,518
Hourly rate$27.23$22.36
Growth rate8%7%
Number of jobs43,4968,585
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4147
Years of experience66

What does a human resources associate do?

A human resources associate is responsible for supporting the human resources department's operations, updating employees' records within the organization's database, and managing the employees' inquiries and concerns by referencing the human resources policies. Human resources associates assist with staffing and recruitment processes, maintaining a timely job board, and filtering potential candidates' requirements and qualifications. They also respond to payments and benefits concerns and recommend employees' training and programs to maximize their potential, credibility, and productivity for daily operations and project management.

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.

Human resources associate vs generalist salary

Human resources associates and generalists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Human Resources AssociateGeneralist
Average salary$56,636$46,518
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $80,000Between $29,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyCitiMeta
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between human resources associate and generalist education

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

Human Resources AssociateGeneralist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaNorthwestern University

Human resources associate vs generalist demographics

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

Human Resources AssociateGeneralist
Average age4147
Gender ratioMale, 21.2% Female, 78.8%Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage9%18%

Differences between human resources associate and generalist duties and responsibilities

Human resources associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage timekeeping system (KRONOS), attendance tracking, and reporting.
  • Manage disability vendor relationship and activities and identify HRIS issues.
  • Integrate efforts on actions and programs where joint OPM functional effort are necessary to accomplish recruitment and enhance organizational effectiveness.
  • Develop an on-line PowerPoint presentation explaining benefits for both open enrollment and new hire.
  • Verify employment background by carrying out e-verify checks and cross checking references.
  • Identify and escalate recurring payroll systems issues; review and reconcile hours work; create output file for payroll to ADP.
  • Show more

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

Human resources associate vs generalist skills

Common human resources associate skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • HRIS, 8%
  • I-9, 6%
  • Performance Management, 5%
  • Exit Interviews, 5%
  • Payroll Processing, 4%
Common generalist skills
  • Sales Floor, 21%
  • Store Sales, 17%
  • Customer Loyalty, 14%
  • Sales Growth, 12%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Processing Customer Transactions, 4%

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