Human resource management can be an exciting field to work in, and you can potentially make a great living as an HR manager. This will vary based on an array of factors though, so it is hard to say what your human resource management salary may be in the future. You will obviously make less money when you start this career than you will after 20 years, but there are other factors to keep in mind. The charts below should explain the different scenarios you may be in that will ultimately determine how much money you make.
Average Human Resource Management Salary
The chart below highlights the average human resource manager salary in the US:
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As you can see from the chart, there is a wide range of salary levels that you may encounter in your career. HR managers in their first year of work may earn $30,000 to $40,000 a year, but those with 20+ years of experience may earn $100,000+ annually. To get a better idea of what you may earn in the future, check out some of the other charts below.
Human Resource Management Salary by Degree
The human resource management degree you earn in the future may play a role in the amount of money you earn in this career. Salary ranges include:
- Associate’s Degree: $34,762 – $78,633
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: $39,308 – $87,859
- Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management: $40,247 – $85,322
- Bachelor’s Degree: $38,646 – $85,994
- Master of Business Administration: $40,689 – $91,837
Human Resource Management Salary by Industry
Some industries pay more for their human resource managers than others, depending on the job duties they require of their employees. Here are some of the most popular industries for HR managers, along with the human resource manager salary levels most employees see in them:
- Healthcare: $42,182 – $97,683
- Hotel and Hospitality Management: $38,635 – $87,653
- Information Technology Services: $40,637 – $96,576
- Manufacturing and Distribution: $42,570 – $99,458
- Retail: $41,377 – $100,739
Human Resource Management Salary by Employer
Your place of employment will have a large impact on the amount of money you earn in human resource management. Listed below are some of the most popular employers for this career path:
- Lowe’s Home Improvement Inc.: $38,049 – $58,971
- Target Corporation: $41,892 – $75,000
- The Home Depot Inc.: $43,731 – $72,44
- U.S. Air Force: $34,888 – $86,358
- U.S. Army: $24,707 – $91,916
Human Resource Management Salary by Gender
Women make up 82% of all human resource managers in the country, but studies suggest that they usually make less than their male counterparts. Human resource management salaries by gender include:
- Male: $49,328 – $80,351
- Female: $45,920 – $70,155
Human Resource Management Salary by Location
Some areas of the country offer higher paying human resource management jobs than others, depending on the economy in the area at the time of employment. Here are the top ten highest paying cities for HR managers so you can figure out where you may want to work in the future:
- (1) Alexandria, Virginia: $50,429 – $102,616
- (2) San Jose, California: $46,602 – $117,181
- (3) San Francisco, California: $50,468 – $101,239
- (4) Santa Clara, California: $54,506 – $121,074
- (5) Anchorage, Alaska: $39,777 – $90,384
- (6) Washington D.C.: $48,671 – $110,306
- (7) Hartford, Connecticut: $46,915 – $102,500
- (8) Pasadena, California: $50,750 – $108,014
- (9) Sacramento, California: $45,613 – $91,929
- (10) Seattle, Washington: $45,917 – $96,898
Your human resource manager salary should fall somewhere within one of the ranges above, although it may be slightly higher if you do not graduate for a few years. Whatever the case may be though, you can clearly see the potential to earn a good living in this career field. Keep that in mind when you are debating whether or not to become an human resource manager.
Note that the information above is courtesy of PayScale.com as of December 24, 2011. It may not reflect the information at the time you read this article.
