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The differences between human resources associates 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 resources associate and a human resources business partner. Additionally, a human resources business partner has an average salary of $86,363, which is higher than the $56,636 average annual salary of a human resources associate.
The top three skills for a human resources associate include customer service, HRIS and I-9. The most important skills for a human resources business partner are employee engagement, HRBP, and succession planning.
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Yearly salary | $56,636 | $86,363 |
| Hourly rate | $27.23 | $41.52 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 43,496 | 103,520 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| 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.
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 resources associates and human resources business partners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Average salary | $56,636 | $86,363 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $62,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Citi | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a human resources associate and a human resources business partner in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between human resources associates' and human resources business partners' demographics:
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8% | Male, 28.1% Female, 71.9% |
| 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, 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 | 9% | 18% |