Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between human resources generalist/managers and senior human resources managers 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/manager and a senior human resources manager. Additionally, a senior human resources manager has an average salary of $102,806, which is higher than the $77,353 average annual salary of a human resources generalist/manager.
The top three skills for a human resources generalist/manager include payroll processing, performance management and HRIS. The most important skills for a senior human resources manager are performance management, employee engagement, and SR.
| Human Resources Generalist/Manager | Senior Human Resources Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $77,353 | $102,806 |
| Hourly rate | $37.19 | $49.43 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 46,682 | 46,602 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A human resource (HR) generalist performs a variety of HR functions and duties. These include recruiting and interviewing job applicants, conducting background checks and verifying employee eligibility, and implementing new employee orientation and recognition programs. In addition, you will be responsible for administering and executing HR programs, including benefits, disputes and investigations, and compensation. As an HR generalist, you are expected to provide answers to inquiries from applicants, employees, and managers. You are also expected to maintain compliance with local, state, and federal employment laws.
As a senior human resources manager, you are responsible for the overall management of human resources involving talent acquisition, performance management, and training and development. You will also handle compensation and benefits, employee services and industrial relations, and personnel administration to ensure a sustainable complement to the company's business operation requirements. It is also part of your role to review, plan, and provide general direction on employee relations programs and activities. The senior human resources manager also does an adequate review of company rules, regulations, and code of conduct and ensures the implementation of employee training and development programs.
Human resources generalist/managers and senior human resources managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Resources Generalist/Manager | Senior Human Resources Manager | |
| Average salary | $77,353 | $102,806 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $107,000 | Between $73,000 And $143,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Bain & Company |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a human resources generalist/manager and a senior human resources manager in terms of educational background:
| Human Resources Generalist/Manager | Senior Human Resources Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between human resources generalist/managers' and senior human resources managers' demographics:
| Human Resources Generalist/Manager | Senior Human Resources Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.5% Female, 74.5% | Male, 42.7% Female, 57.3% |
| 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, 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 | 18% | 18% |