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The differences between human resources generalists and human resource 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 generalist and a human resource specialist. Additionally, a human resources generalist has an average salary of $56,159, which is higher than the $53,143 average annual salary of a human resource specialist.
The top three skills for a human resources generalist include HRIS, performance management and customer service. The most important skills for a human resource specialist are data entry, oversight, and life insurance.
| Human Resources Generalist | Human Resource Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,159 | $53,143 |
| Hourly rate | $27.00 | $25.55 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 44,365 | 50,511 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A human resources specialist is responsible for assisting in the recruitment and staffing process. Duties of a human resources specialist include updating the requirements and qualifications of a job post, handling employees' inquiries regarding compensation and benefits, maintaining employees' records, updating the status of new joiners, tracking performance reviews, and generating reports as business requires. A human resource specialist must be detail-oriented, as well as excellent in organizational and communication skills. Additionally, a human resource specialist must have a broad knowledge of the recruitment process and structure.
Human resources generalists and human resource specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Generalist | Human Resource Specialist | |
| Average salary | $56,159 | $53,143 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $76,000 | Between $36,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a human resources generalist and a human resource specialist in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Generalist | Human Resource Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between human resources generalists' and human resource specialists' demographics:
| Human Resources Generalist | Human Resource Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.5% Female, 79.5% | Male, 26.9% Female, 73.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |