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What is a personnel administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

The role of a Personnel Administrator is to organize and maintain records of employees as needed. They prepare documents for newly hired personnel, work with others to design and alter employment and personnel policies, work within the HR department, and work with other employees on releasing payroll and tutoring new employees.

They also contact other firms, make travel accommodations, and participate in other projects, such as team-building sessions, training events, and other employee-targeted events. The Administrator is also often involved or directly conducts the interviews with potential employees and handles their hiring process.

A person seeking work as a Personnel Administrator should generally have a high-school diploma or a GED, though a university degree in Business Administration or a related subject may be preferred or even necessary. Previous experience working in an HR department is a plus, and excellent communication and organization skills are a must. Knowledge of labor laws and practices is also often necessary.

ScorePersonnel AdministratorUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $40,005

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 60.22%

male 39.78%

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

Personnel administrator career paths

Key steps to become a personnel administrator

  1. Explore personnel administrator education requirements

    Most common personnel administrator degrees

    Bachelor's

    56.2 %

    Associate

    18.9 %

    Master's

    10.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific personnel administrator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Word Processing19.40%
    Life Insurance19.21%
    Office Equipment19.14%
    Photocopiers15.58%
    Travel Arrangements14.42%
  3. Research personnel administrator duties and responsibilities

    • Manage corporate affirmative action plan and enforce EEO policies/programs.
    • Establish operating policies and procedures and attain SNF Medicare certification.
    • Maintain FMLA documentation and records for employees.
    • Used spreadsheets, PowerPoint, or text documents.
  4. Prepare your personnel administrator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your personnel administrator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a personnel administrator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable personnel administrator resume templates

    Build a professional personnel administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your personnel administrator resume.
    Personnel Administrator Resume
    Personnel Administrator Resume
    Personnel Administrator Resume
    Personnel Administrator Resume
    Personnel Administrator Resume
    Personnel Administrator Resume
    Personnel Administrator Resume
    Personnel Administrator Resume
    Personnel Administrator Resume
  5. Apply for personnel administrator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a personnel administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first personnel administrator job

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Average personnel administrator salary

The average personnel administrator salary in the United States is $40,005 per year or $19 per hour. Personnel administrator salaries range between $29,000 and $53,000 per year.

Average personnel administrator salary
$40,005 Yearly
$19.23 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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