Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between human resources associates and human resources 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 human resources generalist. Additionally, a human resources associate has an average salary of $56,636, which is higher than the $56,159 average annual salary of a human resources generalist.
The top three skills for a human resources associate include customer service, HRIS and I-9. The most important skills for a human resources generalist are HRIS, performance management, and customer service.
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,636 | $56,159 |
| Hourly rate | $27.23 | $27.00 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 43,496 | 44,365 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 generalist is responsible for monitoring the human resources policies and procedures, making adjustments as needed to align with the company's goals and objectives. Duties of a human resources generalist also include improving employee relations system, organizing compliance and knowledge training, reviewing benefit plans, managing compensation inquiries, assisting in recruitment and staffing needs, communicating with department heads in employees' performance reviews, and storing employees' files for reference. A human resource generalist must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to address issues concerning the company and employees' welfare.
Human resources associates and human resources generalists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Average salary | $56,636 | $56,159 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $41,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Citi | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a human resources associate and a human resources generalist in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between human resources associates' and human resources generalists' demographics:
| Human Resources Associate | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8% | Male, 20.5% Female, 79.5% |
| 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, 10.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |