What is a human resources supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Denise Barton,

Thomas Byrnes

A human resources supervisor oversees the human resources department of an organization. They manage the recruitment, hiring, and training of employees, and ensure compliance with employment laws. They may also help develop and implement policies regarding employee benefits, compensation, and performance evaluations. Human resources supervisors act as a liaison between management and employees, providing guidance on workplace conflicts. These supervisors are vital to creating a positive work environment, promoting employee retention.

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

Denise Barton

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 SupervisorUS Average

Salary

5.1

Avg. Salary $64,757

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 5.71%

Black or African American 7.65%

Hispanic or Latino 11.14%

Unknown 5.09%

White 70.01%

Gender

female 64.87%

male 35.13%

Age - 47

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 - 47

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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

Pros

Opportunity to shape company culture and values
Exposure to various departments within the organization
Opportunities for professional development
High level of responsibility and autonomy
Competitive salary and benefits

Cons

High stress from managing conflicts and dealing with emotionally taxing situations
Potential for burnout due to long hours, heavy workloads, and tight deadlines
Need to stay up-to-date on changing labor laws and regulations
Risk of being held responsible for legal compliance issues related to HR practices
Need to maintain strict confidentiality when dealing with sensitive employee information

Key steps to become a human resources supervisor

Explore human resources supervisor education requirements

Most common human resources supervisor degrees

Bachelor's

62.3 %

Associate

15.0 %

Master's

13.1 %

Start to develop specific human resources supervisor skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	21.73%
State Laws	8.96%
Payroll Processing	5.27%
Personnel Actions	4.17%
HRIS	3.74%

Research human resources supervisor duties and responsibilities

Manage and lead service team initiatives/special projects (i.e., ADP conversion, corporate mergers, and teamwork events).
Manage HRIS database system and provide monthly reports to executive management.
Manage job-reclassification project, conducting occupational research to determine if job titles are synchronized with FLSA norms.
Utilize KRONOS and ADP to import and process payroll.

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