Human resources manager vs senior human resources generalist

The differences between human resources managers and senior human resources generalists 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 manager and a senior human resources generalist. Additionally, a human resources manager has an average salary of $80,442, which is higher than the $72,512 average annual salary of a senior human resources generalist.

The top three skills for a human resources manager include performance management, customer service and payroll processing. The most important skills for a senior human resources generalist are HRIS, payroll, and employee engagement.

Human resources manager vs senior human resources generalist overview

	Human Resources Manager	Senior Human Resources Generalist
Yearly salary	$80,442	$72,512
Hourly rate	$38.67	$34.86
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	43,453	47,037
Job satisfaction	4.67	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a human resources manager do?

Human resources managers, or HR managers, are responsible for the overall conduct of the different facets of human resources in the organization. They oversee the different processes involved in recruitment, compensation and benefits, talent development, organizational development, employee relations, and employee engagement. It is important that HR managers are well-versed in the different facets of HR. They set policies and procedures, as well as guiding principles of the organization related to these facets. They must be able to balance the needs of the employees and the rules of the management team. HR managers should have strong decision-making skills, interpersonal skills, and management skills.

What does a senior human resources generalist do?

A Senior Human Resources Generalist implements human resources programs, such as health and welfare benefits, training and development, and safety/health. They are also responsible for improving manager and employee performance.

Human resources manager vs senior human resources generalist salary

Human resources managers and senior human resources generalists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Human Resources Manager	Senior Human Resources Generalist
Average salary	$80,442	$72,512
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $113,000	Between $54,000 And $96,000
Highest paying City	Sacramento, CA	Stamford, CT
Highest paying state	Washington	Nevada
Best paying company	Bain & Company	PitchBook Data
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between human resources manager and senior human resources generalist education

There are a few differences between a human resources manager and a senior human resources generalist in terms of educational background:

	Human Resources Manager	Senior Human Resources Generalist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Northwestern University	Northwestern University

Human resources manager vs senior human resources generalist demographics

Here are the differences between human resources managers' and senior human resources generalists' demographics:

	Human Resources Manager	Senior Human Resources Generalist
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3%	Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5%
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%

Differences between human resources manager and senior human resources generalist duties and responsibilities

Human resources manager example responsibilities.

Manage audit efforts to ensure compliance with OFCCP and EEOC standards
Manage requisitions, rout candidates and determine the disposition of each candidate using iCIMS.
Manage all monthly and quarterly financial statement reviews by board as well as A/R, A/P and general ledger.
Manage, implement, and administer proper hiring process to reduce turnover in compliance with e-verify processes and federal law.
Manage and publish several cost-savings models for Sr. level management.
Manage system upgrades, testing and documentation of enterprise-wide PeopleSoft Payroll/HRMS system.

Senior human resources generalist example responsibilities.

Manage hourly and management recruiting activity to meet establish AAP goals.
Manage AAP plan development, modification, implementation, and reporting requirements.
Partner with Sr. Management and line managers to develop organizational strategies and achieve overall organizational objectives.
Administer and negotiate benefits package, perform internal audits, manage disability and FMLA and perform in-house training.
Manage the FMLA application process, conduct employee investigations, resolve payroll and benefit discrepancies and administer salary adjustments per contract.
Complete all government filing requirements are complete timely and accurately, including ERISA, VETS-100A, EEO-1 and OSHA reporting.

Human resources manager vs senior human resources generalist skills

Common human resources manager skills

Performance Management, 8%
Customer Service, 5%
Payroll Processing, 5%
HRIS, 5%
Employee Engagement, 5%
EEO, 4%

Common senior human resources generalist skills

HRIS, 8%
Payroll, 6%
Employee Engagement, 6%
SR, 5%
Customer Service, 5%
Exit Interviews, 4%

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Human Resources Manager vs Senior Human Resources Generalist

Updated January 8, 2025

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