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The differences between human resources executives and senior human resources 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 executive and a senior human resources specialist. Additionally, a human resources executive has an average salary of $84,219, which is higher than the $63,956 average annual salary of a senior human resources specialist.
The top three skills for a human resources executive include payroll, data entry and performance management. The most important skills for a senior human resources specialist are payroll, customer service, and HRIS.
| Human Resources Executive | Senior Human Resources Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,219 | $63,956 |
| Hourly rate | $40.49 | $30.75 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 109,172 | 46,316 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A human resources executive is primarily in charge of developing and spearheading human resources programs such as benefits and compensation. They manage different teams, set objectives and guidelines, gather and analyze data, liaise with external parties, coordinate with analysts and specialists, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They must also oversee the employment procedures and participate in screening applicants. Furthermore, a human resources executive must lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A senior human resources specialist is responsible for monitoring the human resources operations of an organization, managing employment processes and policies, and handling staffing needs and concerns. Senior human resources specialists design training and programs to maintain staff's efficiency and maximize the employees' productivity to support business functional operations. They also coordinate with management leaders to identify their hiring needs, evaluating their specifications for recruitment. A senior human resources specialist reviews the company's policies and guidelines regularly, adjusting procedures according to state regulations and business requirements.
Human resources executives and senior human resources specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Executive | Senior Human Resources Specialist | |
| Average salary | $84,219 | $63,956 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $124,000 | Between $45,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a human resources executive and a senior human resources specialist in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Executive | Senior Human Resources Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between human resources executives' and senior human resources specialists' demographics:
| Human Resources Executive | Senior Human Resources Specialist | |
| Average age | 47 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1% | Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 7.7% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 18% | 9% |