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What is a human resources contractor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Sandi Dornhecker,
Thomas Byrnes
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a human resources contractor. For example, did you know that they make an average of $37.0 an hour? That's $76,953 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 12,600 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a human resources contractor?

Sandi DornheckerSandi Dornhecker LinkedIn profile

Vice President of Human Resources, Chicago Zoological Society

To always remain positive. The job market has been flooded with unemployed workers, so the competition may be much steeper than usual, although I've read some articles that say this may not be the case as the number of quality applicants in the workforce remains the same. If you haven't found a position in your desired career yet, take positions and work when and where you can. Give it your all while you are working, strive to excel in your performance, no matter what your job is, and be a dedicated worker while you are there. If one is looking for employment, take your time to review the job(s) and requirements of the positions you are applying for to make sure you meet the minimum qualifications and/or are able to speak to how your skills are transferable; don't just take a shotgun approach. Write a customized cover letter for each position you apply for that reflects how your knowledge, background, and skills apply to the position and why you are interested. Answer all on-line application questions honestly and thoroughly. Write a thank-you note, if you are granted an interview. When you start a new job, be a sponge. Learn as much as you can and be willing to go the extra mile. This is a unique year to start one's career, and a graduate can learn unique lessons in both positive and challenging experiences.
ScoreHuman Resources ContractorUS Average
Salary
6.0

Avg. Salary $76,953

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.6

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 5.71%

Black or African American 7.65%

Hispanic or Latino 11.14%

Unknown 5.09%

White 70.01%

Gender

female 70.00%

male 30.00%

Age - 47
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 - 47
Stress level
8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Human resources contractor career paths

Key steps to become a human resources contractor

  1. Explore human resources contractor education requirements

    Most common human resources contractor degrees

    Bachelor's

    72.0 %

    Master's

    14.7 %

    Associate

    7.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific human resources contractor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Human Resources14.94%
    Payroll Processing12.70%
    HRIS9.64%
    Background Checks6.25%
    I-94.07%
  3. Research human resources contractor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage all monthly and quarterly financial statement reviews by board as well as A/R, A/P and general ledger.
    • Audit all personnel files, enter employee data into NuView HRIS system and ADP payroll system.
    • Utilize ADP HRIS system, processing benefit changes, payroll, monitoring safety issues in a manufacturing environment.
    • Work with both ADP and Paychex, as well as Quickbooks.
  4. Prepare your human resources contractor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your human resources contractor 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 contractor 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 contractor resume templates

    Build a professional human resources contractor 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 contractor resume.
    Human Resources Contractor Resume
    Human Resources Contractor Resume
    Human Resources Contractor Resume
    Human Resources Contractor Resume
    Human Resources Contractor Resume
    Human Resources Contractor Resume
    Human Resources Contractor Resume
    Human Resources Contractor Resume
    Human Resources Contractor Resume
  5. Apply for human resources contractor jobs

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

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

How did you land your first human resources contractor job

Zippi

Are you a human resources contractor?

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Average human resources contractor salary

The average human resources contractor salary in the United States is $76,953 per year or $37 per hour. Human resources contractor salaries range between $56,000 and $104,000 per year.

Average human resources contractor salary
$76,953 Yearly
$37.00 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do human resources contractors rate their job?

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Human resources contractor reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2021
Pros

Making a difference in the lives of the people and the community where I am employed.

Cons

Decline in business levels and employee layoffs.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Autonomy to address HR issues as I see fit. Ability to work with people in all areas of the company, in all roles and at all levels.

Cons

I'm the only HR person, so I don't have a team.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

It increase ones knowledge about information

Cons

Too task a times and need to do a lot of review


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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