Yes, HR jobs pay well. While entry-level jobs in HR may pay salaries as low as $40,000 per year, more senior positions can easily earn salaries exceeding $100,000 per year. An entry-level job in human resources may provide a salary on the lower end of this salary range. Such a position, however, may provide opportunities to advance one's career in human resources. With a few years of experience in human resources, it may become possible to enter into a management position.

How long does it take to become a human resource specialist?

It usually takes between four and six years to become a human resource specialist. Typically, a human resources specialist is expected to have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as business administration, psychology, or communications. In addition to this degree, some work experience may be required.

Is HR specialist a good job?

Yes, being an HR specialist is a good job. A career as a human resource specialist can afford one the opportunity for a great deal of career growth. Additionally, human resource specialists are often well compensated. A typical human resource specialist may earn between $40,000 per year and $80,000 per year.

What is a human resource specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Denise Barton,

Thomas Byrnes

A human resource specialist manages an organization's workforce. They oversee the recruitment, selection, retention, and training of employees. They also ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations, manage employee benefits, and handle disciplinary actions. Human resource specialists work closely with management to develop policies and strategies that align with the organization's goals. They are responsible for maintaining employee records and ensuring that all HR activities are carried out smoothly.

What general advice would you give to a Human Resource Specialist?

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 Resource SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.2

Avg. Salary $53,143

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.0

Growth Rate 8%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.61%

Asian 7.65%

Black or African American 11.44%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

Unknown 5.12%

White 56.18%

Gender

female 73.12%

male 26.88%

Age - 40

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 - 40

Stress Level

8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.0

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Human Resource Specialist?

Pros

Opportunity to work with a diverse group of people
Dynamic work environment
Opportunity to implement new policies and procedures
Opportunity to work with management to improve company culture
Chance to be part of a team that supports the success of the company

Cons

Balancing competing priorities can be challenging
Dealing with difficult employees or situations can be emotionally taxing
Constantly changing regulations and laws can be difficult to keep up with
Can be challenging to balance the needs of employees with the needs of the company
May have to deal with conflicts between management and employees

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Key steps to become a human resource specialist

Explore human resource specialist education requirements

Most common human resource specialist degrees

Bachelor's

61.1 %

Associate

16.4 %

Master's

11.1 %

Start to develop specific human resource specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Entry	10.03%
Oversight	9.16%
Life Insurance	8.89%
Human Resources Policies	7.61%
Customer Service	7.17%

Complete relevant human resource specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New human resource specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a human resource specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real human resource specialist resumes.

Research human resource specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage site KRONOS payroll, time and attendance, and vacation tracking for hourly.
Manage new hire and current employee paperwork that includes status change forms, W-4s, I-9s, etc.
Lead a compliance initiative to ensure successful transition to the e-Verify employment verification process.
Integrate efforts on actions and programs where joint OPM functional effort are necessary to accomplish recruitment and enhance organizational effectiveness.

Prepare your human resource specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your human resource specialist 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 human resource specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Human Resource Specialist Resume templates

Build a professional Human Resource Specialist 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 Human Resource Specialist resume.

Apply for human resource specialist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a human resource specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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

How do human resource specialists rate their job?

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Human Resource Specialist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

Autonomy to address HR issues as I see fit. Ability to work with people in all areas of the company, in all roles and at all levels.

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020

Cons

Too task a times and need to do a lot of review

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020