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Senior human resources specialist salary
Average senior human resources specialist salary
$63,956
Average Senior Human Resources Specialist Salary
The average salary for a Senior Human Resources Specialist is $63,956 per year, translating to about $31 per hour. This figure reflects the median salary across the United States, providing a benchmark for those considering a career in HR.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several factors can influence salary for this role:
- Experience: Salary typically increases with experience, with seasoned specialists earning significantly more.
- Location: States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living.
- Industry: Industries such as technology and finance tend to pay more than education or non-profit sectors.
Job Opportunities
As a Senior HR Specialist, you can explore various career opportunities, from organizational development to talent management. The demand for HR professionals is on the rise, making this an excellent time to enter the field. With the right experience and skills, you can increase your earning potential and find fulfilling roles in diverse environments.
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Where can a Senior Human Resources Specialist earn more?
Senior human resources specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average senior human resources specialist salary by state
The average senior human resources specialist salary in New York, Massachusetts, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior human resources specialist salary states are Florida, Idaho, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior human resources specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $86,259 | $41.47 |
| 2 | New York | $83,418 | $40.10 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $75,978 | $36.53 |
| 4 | California | $71,444 | $34.35 |
| 5 | Virginia | $68,208 | $32.79 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $65,538 | $31.51 |
| 7 | Maryland | $70,802 | $34.04 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $70,356 | $33.83 |
| 9 | Illinois | $67,715 | $32.56 |
| 10 | Vermont | $62,665 | $30.13 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $67,104 | $32.26 |
| 12 | Washington | $65,001 | $31.25 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $62,370 | $29.99 |
| 14 | Delaware | $63,551 | $30.55 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $60,325 | $29.00 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $60,619 | $29.14 |
| 17 | Oregon | $63,120 | $30.35 |
| 18 | Michigan | $61,698 | $29.66 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $70,291 | $33.79 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $63,936 | $30.74 |
| 21 | Maine | $61,457 | $29.55 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $61,038 | $29.35 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $59,196 | $28.46 |
| 24 | Texas | $59,858 | $28.78 |
| 25 | Alaska | $66,448 | $31.95 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $58,062 | $27.91 |
| 27 | Montana | $55,267 | $26.57 |
| 28 | Kansas | $56,908 | $27.36 |
| 29 | Indiana | $57,446 | $27.62 |
| 30 | Missouri | $59,049 | $28.39 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $58,247 | $28.00 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $54,941 | $26.41 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $53,880 | $25.90 |
| 34 | Colorado | $55,459 | $26.66 |
| 35 | Alabama | $56,369 | $27.10 |
| 36 | Iowa | $54,086 | $26.00 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $55,699 | $26.78 |
| 38 | Nevada | $56,579 | $27.20 |
| 39 | Utah | $53,938 | $25.93 |
| 40 | Ohio | $53,127 | $25.54 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $54,541 | $26.22 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $49,262 | $23.68 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $56,191 | $27.01 |
| 44 | Arizona | $48,355 | $23.25 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $53,899 | $25.91 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $53,617 | $25.78 |
| 47 | Idaho | $51,457 | $24.74 |
| 48 | Florida | $52,248 | $25.12 |
| 49 | Georgia | $52,888 | $25.43 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $44,361 | $21.33 |
Highest paying cities for senior human resources specialists
The highest-paying cities for senior human resources specialists are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Santa Clara, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $86,347 | $41.51 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $83,731 | $40.26 |
| 3 | Santa Clara, CA | $76,283 | $36.67 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $75,848 | $36.47 |
| 5 | Teaneck, NJ | $70,281 | $33.79 |
| 6 | Reston, VA | $69,668 | $33.49 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $67,943 | $32.66 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $65,989 | $31.73 |
| 9 | Irving, TX | $60,079 | $28.88 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $59,953 | $28.82 |
| 11 | Saint Paul, MN | $58,383 | $28.07 |
| 12 | Columbus, IN | $57,132 | $27.47 |
| 13 | Aurora, CO | $55,496 | $26.68 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $53,172 | $25.56 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $52,835 | $25.40 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $52,832 | $25.40 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,374 | $23.26 |
| 18 | Oak Ridge, TN | $45,099 | $21.68 |
Senior human resources specialist salary details
A senior human resources specialist's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $89,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior human resources specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $63,956 | $5,330 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying senior human resources specialist jobs
The highest paying types of senior human resources specialists are senior human resources manager, human resources lead, and regional human resources manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Internship | $32,702 | $2,725 | $15.72 | 88,826 |
| Human Resources Recruiter/Manager | $78,339 | $6,528 | $37.66 | 75,365 |
| Human Resources Manager | $80,442 | $6,703 | $38.67 | 43,453 |
| Human Resources Consultant | $71,882 | $5,990 | $34.56 | 52,761 |
| Human Resources Clerk | $35,149 | $2,929 | $16.90 | 107,374 |
| Human Resources Coordinator | $44,074 | $3,673 | $21.19 | 53,322 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for senior human resources 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 senior human resources specialists now:
Which companies pay senior human resources specialists the most?
Senior human resources specialist salaries at Edwards Lifesciences and Amazon are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior human resources specialist salary at companies like Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. and BNY Mellon are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edwards Lifesciences | $107,551 | $51.71 |
| 2 | Amazon | $102,790 | $49.42 |
| 3 | Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. | $99,843 | $48.00 |
| 4 | BNY Mellon | $98,329 | $47.27 |
| 5 | Exxon Mobil | $98,159 | $47.19 |
| 6 | Intuit | $96,817 | $46.55 |
| 7 | Merck | $96,462 | $46.38 |
| 8 | AbbVie | $96,256 | $46.28 |
| 9 | Synechron | $93,542 | $44.97 |
| 10 | Colgate-Palmolive | $93,541 | $44.97 |
| 11 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $93,182 | $44.80 |
| 12 | Huntington National Bank | $90,729 | $43.62 |
| 13 | Pure Storage | $90,345 | $43.44 |
| 14 | Rockstar Games | $90,229 | $43.38 |
| 15 | Florida Power and Light | $90,107 | $43.32 |
| 16 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $88,878 | $42.73 |
| 17 | Medtronic | $88,788 | $42.69 |
| 18 | IBM | $87,764 | $42.19 |
| 19 | Ross Stores | $86,502 | $41.59 |
| 20 | Alvarez & Marsal | $85,650 | $41.18 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior Human Resources Specialist salary by industry
The average senior human resources specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average senior human resources specialist salary in the finance industry is $77,555, the highest of any industry.
- The average senior human resources specialist salary in the finance industry is $76,444.
- Senior human resources specialists in the government industry earn an average salary of $58,318, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for senior human resources specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $77,555 | $37.29 |
| 2 | Technology | $76,444 | $36.75 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $71,645 | $34.44 |
| 4 | Telecommunication | $66,744 | $32.09 |
| 5 | Health Care | $62,614 | $30.10 |
| 6 | Professional | $62,597 | $30.09 |
| 7 | Retail | $61,654 | $29.64 |
| 8 | Government | $58,318 | $28.04 |
High paying senior human resources specialist jobs
Senior human resources specialist salary trends
The average senior human resources specialist salary has risen by $8,466 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior human resources specialist earned $55,490 annually, but today, they earn $63,956 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for senior human resources specialists over the last decade.
Compare senior human resources specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior human resources specialist salary over time
Compare senior human resources specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior human resources specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $64,000 | $30.75 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | $62,400 | $29.99 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $61,300 | $29.48 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $60,800 | $29.23 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $59,600 | $28.66 | +1.4% |
Recently added senior human resources specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target | SR HR Specialist Gscl | Rialto, CA | 06/30/2025 | $42,137 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | Senior Human Resources Specialist | Fayetteville, AR | 06/30/2025 | $49,500 |
| Rossstores | Senior Specialist, HR Services (Tier 3) | Ione, CA | 06/29/2025 | $66,800 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | SR. Human Resources Specialist | Rockville, MD | 06/29/2025 | $49,500 |
| Mjh Life Sciences, LLC | Senior Human Resources Specialist, People Operations | Cranbury, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | SR. Human Resources Specialist | Kansas City, MO | 06/29/2025 | $49,500 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | SR. Human Resources Specialist | Albany, NY | 06/29/2025 | $49,500 |
| Disclosure, Consent, Acknowledgment and Agreement | Senior Specialist, HR Services (Tier 3) | Ione, CA | 06/29/2025 | $66,800 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | SR. Human Resources Specialist | Trenton, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $49,500 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | SR. Human Resources Specialist | Milwaukee, WI | 06/27/2025 | $49,500 |
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