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The differences between human resources associates and human resource specialists 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 human resource specialist. Additionally, a human resources associate has an average salary of $56,636, which is higher than the $53,143 average annual salary of a human resource specialist.
The top three skills for a human resources associate include customer service, HRIS and I-9. The most important skills for a human resource specialist are data entry, oversight, and life insurance.
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resource Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,636 | $53,143 |
| Hourly rate | $27.23 | $25.55 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 43,496 | 50,511 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A human resources specialist is responsible for assisting in the recruitment and staffing process. Duties of a human resources specialist include updating the requirements and qualifications of a job post, handling employees' inquiries regarding compensation and benefits, maintaining employees' records, updating the status of new joiners, tracking performance reviews, and generating reports as business requires. A human resource specialist must be detail-oriented, as well as excellent in organizational and communication skills. Additionally, a human resource specialist must have a broad knowledge of the recruitment process and structure.
Human resources associates and human resource specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resource Specialist | |
| Average salary | $56,636 | $53,143 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $36,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Citi | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a human resources associate and a human resource specialist in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resource Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between human resources associates' and human resource specialists' demographics:
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resource Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8% | Male, 26.9% Female, 73.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |