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The differences between human resources generalists and human resources business partners 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 resources business partner. Additionally, a human resources business partner has an average salary of $86,363, which is higher than the $56,159 average annual salary of a human resources generalist.
The top three skills for a human resources generalist include HRIS, performance management and customer service. The most important skills for a human resources business partner are employee engagement, HRBP, and succession planning.
| Human Resources Generalist | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Yearly salary | $56,159 | $86,363 |
| Hourly rate | $27.00 | $41.52 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 44,365 | 103,520 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| 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.
Human resource (HR) business partners' primary job is to ensure that business objectives are aligned with the management and employees within an organization. They typically focus more on developing HR strategy than implementing the company policies. They often work with individual business units, and their work is related to the company's current and future success. HR business partners are also responsible for providing performance management guidance, developing contract terms for new employees, transfers, and promotions, and providing advice on business units.
Human resources generalists and human resources business partners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Generalist | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Average salary | $56,159 | $86,363 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $76,000 | Between $62,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a human resources generalist and a human resources business partner in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Generalist | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between human resources generalists' and human resources business partners' demographics:
| Human Resources Generalist | Human Resources Business Partner | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.5% Female, 79.5% | Male, 28.1% Female, 71.9% |
| 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, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 18% |