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Personnel specialist salary
Average personnel specialist salary
$51,057
Average Salary Overview
The average salary for a Personnel Specialist as of October 2025 is $51,057 per year. This figure can vary based on geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment. For example, personnel specialists working in larger metropolitan areas may command higher salaries compared to their counterparts in smaller cities.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level personnel specialists typically earn less than those with several years of experience. As skills develop and responsibilities increase, so does earning potential. It’s not uncommon for seasoned professionals to earn significantly more, with salaries reflecting their advanced competencies and leadership roles.
Top-Paying States
Some states offer higher salaries due to demand and cost of living factors. States like California, New York, and Massachusetts often lead in compensation for personnel specialists. Researching local job markets can provide valuable insights into potential earnings in various regions.
Job Opportunities
With a solid foundation in human resources, personnel specialists can pursue various career paths, including HR management and talent acquisition. This flexibility opens doors for career advancement, allowing professionals to specialize further and increase their earning potential.
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Where can a Personnel Specialist earn more?
Personnel specialist salaries by experience level
Personnel specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average personnel specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for personnel specialists are Maryland, Washington, and Minnesota. The lowest average personnel specialist salary states are Kentucky, Utah, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for personnel specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $64,582 | $31.05 |
| 2 | Maryland | $60,528 | $29.10 |
| 3 | North Carolina | $56,547 | $27.19 |
| 4 | Alabama | $54,668 | $26.28 |
| 5 | Virginia | $54,880 | $26.38 |
| 6 | Georgia | $54,887 | $26.39 |
| 7 | Texas | $54,197 | $26.06 |
| 8 | Washington | $59,194 | $28.46 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $51,904 | $24.95 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $55,034 | $26.46 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $50,817 | $24.43 |
| 13 | Illinois | $56,779 | $27.30 |
| 14 | Missouri | $53,637 | $25.79 |
| 15 | Alaska | $50,980 | $24.51 |
| 16 | Delaware | $49,583 | $23.84 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $55,916 | $26.88 |
| 18 | Oregon | $51,347 | $24.69 |
| 19 | Vermont | $48,372 | $23.26 |
| 20 | Ohio | $50,437 | $24.25 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $46,135 | $22.18 |
| 22 | New York | $50,567 | $24.31 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $48,177 | $23.16 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $47,088 | $22.64 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $45,699 | $21.97 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $45,264 | $21.76 |
| 27 | Iowa | $44,693 | $21.49 |
| 28 | California | $53,917 | $25.92 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $47,982 | $23.07 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $44,142 | $21.22 |
| 31 | Colorado | $49,532 | $23.81 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $48,507 | $23.32 |
| 33 | Nevada | $46,276 | $22.25 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $49,346 | $23.72 |
| 35 | Florida | $46,111 | $22.17 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $44,463 | $21.38 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $45,735 | $21.99 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $49,266 | $23.69 |
| 39 | Michigan | $45,931 | $22.08 |
| 40 | Maine | $46,945 | $22.57 |
| 41 | Indiana | $45,246 | $21.75 |
| 42 | Arizona | $44,028 | $21.17 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $42,071 | $20.23 |
| 44 | Kansas | $44,021 | $21.16 |
| 45 | Utah | $43,356 | $20.84 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $43,261 | $20.80 |
| 47 | New Jersey | $48,442 | $23.29 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $46,113 | $22.17 |
| 50 | Montana | $36,620 | $17.61 |
| 51 | Idaho | $39,995 | $19.23 |
Highest paying cities for personnel specialists
The highest-paying cities for personnel specialists are Washington, DC, Durham, NC, and Norfolk, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $64,602 | $31.06 |
| 2 | Durham, NC | $56,757 | $27.29 |
| 3 | Norfolk, VA | $54,980 | $26.43 |
| 4 | Berkeley, CA | $54,666 | $26.28 |
| 5 | Merced, CA | $54,381 | $26.14 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $54,126 | $26.02 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $53,983 | $25.95 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $53,824 | $25.88 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $50,733 | $24.39 |
| 10 | Colorado Springs, CO | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| 11 | Worcester, MA | $49,552 | $23.82 |
| 12 | Plainsboro, NJ | $48,498 | $23.32 |
| 13 | Biloxi, MS | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| 14 | Clearwater, FL | $46,773 | $22.49 |
| 15 | Muncie, IN | $45,304 | $21.78 |
| 16 | New Hampton, IA | $44,587 | $21.44 |
| 17 | Tempe, AZ | $44,056 | $21.18 |
| 18 | Charleston, WV | $44,049 | $21.18 |
| 19 | Oklahoma City, OK | $43,353 | $20.84 |
Personnel specialist salary details
A personnel specialist's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a personnel specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $51,057 | $4,255 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying personnel specialist jobs
The highest paying types of personnel specialists are senior technical recruiter, senior recruiter, and corporate recruiter.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Recruiter | $47,549 | $3,962 | $22.86 | 73,383 |
| Staffing Coordinator | $44,302 | $3,692 | $21.30 | 29,520 |
| Technical Recruiter | $62,499 | $5,208 | $30.05 | 96,164 |
| Corporate Recruiter | $70,538 | $5,878 | $33.91 | 45,393 |
| Recruiter | $51,374 | $4,281 | $24.70 | 37,954 |
| Human Resources Supervisor | $64,757 | $5,396 | $31.13 | 46,523 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for personnel specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sarah DeArmond Ph.D.
Management and Human Resources Department Chair, Professor of Human Resource Management, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Top companies hiring personnel specialists now:
Which companies pay personnel specialists the most?
Personnel specialist salaries at McKinsey & Company Inc and Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average personnel specialist salary at companies like Arizona State University and City of Louisville are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $75,730 | $36.41 |
| 2 | Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation | $57,012 | $27.41 |
| 3 | Arizona State University | $56,602 | $27.21 |
| 4 | City of Louisville | $55,549 | $26.71 |
| 5 | University of California | $54,416 | $26.16 |
| 6 | UC Santa Barbara | $53,183 | $25.57 |
| 7 | University of California-Berkeley | $53,079 | $25.52 |
| 8 | UCLA | $51,965 | $24.98 |
| 9 | CalSTRS | $51,474 | $24.75 |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts Medical School | $51,227 | $24.63 |
| 11 | KnowBe4 | $50,555 | $24.31 |
| 12 | Croell Ready Mix | $50,482 | $24.27 |
| 13 | Delta Solutions & Strategies | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| 14 | Ball State University | $48,939 | $23.53 |
| 15 | Duke University Health System | $48,298 | $23.22 |
| 16 | State of West Virginia | $47,837 | $23.00 |
| 17 | City of Norfolk | $47,582 | $22.88 |
| 18 | Vectrus | $44,424 | $21.36 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Personnel specialist salary trends
The average personnel specialist salary has risen by $6,758 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average personnel specialist earned $44,299 annually, but today, they earn $51,057 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for personnel specialists over the last decade.
Compare personnel specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average personnel specialist salary over time
Compare personnel specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Personnel specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,100 | $24.55 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $49,800 | $23.94 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $49,000 | $23.54 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $48,500 | $23.33 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $47,600 | $22.88 | +1.4% |
Recently added personnel specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Secretary of State | Personnel Specialist | Springfield, IL | 06/28/2025 | $53,628 |
| Arizona State University | Academic Personnel Specialist Senior | Tempe, AZ | 05/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| State of California | Personnel Specialist | Sacramento, CA | 05/15/2025 | $36,000 |
| County of Sacramento | Personnel Specialist Junior II | Sacramento, CA | 05/11/2025 | $64,290 |
| Sacramento County (Ca | Personnel Specialist Junior II | Sacramento, CA | 05/08/2025 | $64,290 |
| Insight Global | Personnel Specialist | Sacramento, CA | 05/03/2025 | $62,610 |
| Caci International | Personnel Management Specialist | Hawaii | 04/28/2025 | $49,500 |
| State of California | Personnel Specialist | Sacramento, CA | 04/24/2025 | $57,600 |
| University of Tennessee | Personnel Specialist: College of Arts & Sciences-UTK | Knoxville, TN | 04/07/2025 | $47,000 |
| Arizona State University | Academic Personnel Specialist Senior | Tempe, AZ | 03/25/2025 | $60,000 |
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