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Human resources coordinator vs specialist

The differences between human resources coordinators and specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a human resources coordinator, becoming a specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a specialist has an average salary of $58,013, which is higher than the $44,074 average annual salary of a human resources coordinator.

The top three skills for a human resources coordinator include customer service, HRIS and background checks. The most important skills for a specialist are patients, customer service, and work ethic.

Human resources coordinator vs specialist overview

Human Resources CoordinatorSpecialist
Yearly salary$44,074$58,013
Hourly rate$21.19$27.89
Growth rate8%10%
Number of jobs53,322358,433
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4142
Years of experience62

What does a human resources coordinator do?

A human resources coordinator is responsible for cooperating with the company's human resources department, supporting its processes and procedures, and assisting with employees' concerns. Human resources coordinators' duties include maintaining business files and employees' records, processing documents and submitting required reports, administering background checks for the recruitment process, reviewing and referring to company's handbook for corrective action and performance review, scheduling meetings and facilitating events, and advising effective strategies to human resources management. A human resources coordinator requires excellent communication and employee-relation skills to support the company's daily operations.

What does a specialist do?

Specialists are employees who are responsible for specific tasks or activities in the department they are assigned to. The actions or tasks they work on are related to their educational background or work experiences. They are usually highly skilled in specializations related to the work they are assigned to. Specialists are also highly trained on the competencies that are required of their specialty. As such, they are focused on the skills and competencies that are needed to enhance their experience in their specific field further.

Human resources coordinator vs specialist salary

Human resources coordinators and specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Human Resources CoordinatorSpecialist
Average salary$44,074$58,013
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $60,000Between $32,000 And $104,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCJersey City, NJ
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyMicrosoftThe Citadel
Best paying industryFinance-

Differences between human resources coordinator and specialist education

There are a few differences between a human resources coordinator and a specialist in terms of educational background:

Human Resources CoordinatorSpecialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Human resources coordinator vs specialist demographics

Here are the differences between human resources coordinators' and specialists' demographics:

Human Resources CoordinatorSpecialist
Average age4142
Gender ratioMale, 18.4% Female, 81.6%Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 7.7% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%11%

Differences between human resources coordinator and specialist duties and responsibilities

Human resources coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Resolve many complex employee relations issues, manage arbitration agreements and provide management with judicial guidance managing the arbitration agreement.
  • Manage the offboarding process of all terminate employees.
  • Build and manage various databases and spreadsheets including attendance point systems, disciplinary records, I-9s, and apprenticeship program tracking.
  • Manage and monitor benefit enrollments/cancellations and PTO program.
  • Manage e-verify process for the entire organization working closely with remote managers to ensure timely access to documents.
  • Create PowerPoint presentations for leadership meetings, manage spreadsheet databases, manage donation programs for RedCross and UnitedWay campaigns.
  • Show more

Specialist example responsibilities.

  • Create, manage, and assist users with SharePoint sites.
  • Manage an on-site IRB and company good clinical practice (GCP) inspection.
  • Manage SharePoint sites by creating, editing, and customizing company sites, libraries and security.
  • Manage the building of accounts, assigning of static IP's, and scheduling of business class installations.
  • Convert servers from UNIX to Linux, all hardware diagnostics and repair including printers/plotters/desktops etc.
  • Follow safety procedures such as maintenance of all equipment (Telxon scanners, terminals and ladders).
  • Show more

Human resources coordinator vs specialist skills

Common human resources coordinator skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • HRIS, 8%
  • Background Checks, 6%
  • Process Payroll, 6%
  • Data Entry, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
Common specialist skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Work Ethic, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Exceptional Client, 4%
  • Troubleshoot, 4%

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