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What is a human resources generalist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Denise Barton,
Thomas Byrnes
introduction image

A human resources generalist works in the field of human resources. They are responsible for employee management tasks, such as recruiting and hiring, managing benefits and compensation, overseeing employee training and development, and handling employee relations. Human resources generalists also ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations, and they may work in strategic planning for workforce management. In short, they serve as the primary contact for all HR-related matters within an organization.

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

Denise BartonDenise Barton LinkedIn profile

Senior Professor of Human Resources, Wake Technical Community College

I would advise graduates beginning their careers to earn a human resources certification from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Both organizations are internationally recognized for high-quality HR knowledge-based exams.
ScoreHuman Resources GeneralistUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $56,159

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.0

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.62%

Asian 8.00%

Black or African American 10.45%

Hispanic or Latino 18.64%

Unknown 5.17%

White 57.12%

Gender

female 79.49%

male 20.51%

Age - 40
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 - 40
Stress level
8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.0

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a human resources generalist?

Pros

  • Opportunity to work with people from all departments

  • Possibility for flexible work arrangements and work-life balance

  • Opportunity to build strong relationships with key stakeholders

  • Potential for competitive salary and benefits packages

  • Ability to work in a dynamic and constantly evolving field

Cons

  • Heavy workload and high stress levels

  • Potential for long hours and time-consuming projects

  • May be required to work with limited resources or budgets

  • Can be emotionally taxing, as HR generalists often deal with employee personal issues such as illness, family problems, etc.

  • Can be frustrating when dealing with bureaucracy or red tape.

Human resources generalist career paths

Key steps to become a human resources generalist

  1. Explore human resources generalist education requirements

    Most common human resources generalist degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.9 %

    Master's

    14.1 %

    Associate

    11.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific human resources generalist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    HRIS9.00%
    Performance Management7.45%
    Customer Service5.36%
    Exit Interviews3.83%
    Payroll Processing3.44%
  3. Complete relevant human resources generalist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New human resources generalists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a human resources generalist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real human resources generalist resumes.
  4. Research human resources generalist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage any payroll-relate issues/questions with ADP directly and communicate resolutions to employees.
    • Manage administration and compliance of benefit programs, including FMLA and educational assistance programs.
    • Perform all benefits processing and payroll functions including coordinating and performing employee benefit eligibility and open enrollment activities.
    • Partner with the corporate compensation Sr.
  5. Prepare your human resources generalist resume

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

    Build a professional human resources generalist 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 generalist resume.
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  6. Apply for human resources generalist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a human resources generalist 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 generalist job

Zippi

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Average human resources generalist salary

The average human resources generalist salary in the United States is $56,159 per year or $27 per hour. Human resources generalist salaries range between $41,000 and $76,000 per year.

Average human resources generalist salary
$56,159 Yearly
$27.00 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do human resources generalists rate their job?

4/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Human resources generalist reviews

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


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Cons

Nothing.


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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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