Salary Outlook
According to the BLS, HR specialists had a median salary of $54,310 in 2011. The best-paid 10 percent made an average of $94,700, while the lowest-paid 10 percent were paid $29,850, on average. Petroleum and coal products makers, software publishers, and the executive branch of the federal government paid the highest salaries. The highest-paid worked in Washington, D.C., and the California metro areas of San Jose and San Francisco.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $33,280.00 |
| 2004 | $42,520.00 |
| 2006 | $49,170.00 |
| 2008 | $54,580.00 |
| 2010 | $57,830.00 |
Average HR Specialist Pay vs. All Business Jobs
The average salary in this field is $54,310, which is comparable to several other business jobs on our list. For example, insurance agents earned $47,450 in 2011, and loan officers earned about $58,030. The average accountant makes a salary that’s roughly $10,000 more than an HR specialist, and an executive assistant makes a salary that’s about $10,000 less.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Accountant | $62,850.00 |
| Loan Officer | $58,030.00 |
| HR Specialist | $54,310.00 |
| Insurance Agent | $47,450.00 |
| Executive Assistant | $45,580.00 |
See Complete List of Best Business Jobs
Best Paying Cities for HR Specialists
The highest paid in the hr specialist profession work in the metropolitan areas of Washington, DC, San Jose, CA, and San Francisco, CA. The Oakland, CA area also pays well, as does the city of Vallejo, CA.
Washington, DC
Average Salary: $78,880 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a hr specialist working in Washington, DC is $78,880, which is $24,570 more than the average pay in the profession.
San Jose, CA
Average Salary: $78,420 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a hr specialist working in San Jose, CA is $78,420, which is $24,110 more than the average pay in the profession.
San Francisco, CA
Average Salary: $77,900 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a hr specialist working in San Francisco, CA is $77,900, which is $23,590 more than the average pay in the profession.
Oakland, CA
Average Salary: $75,960 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a hr specialist working in Oakland, CA is $75,960, which is $21,650 more than the average pay in the profession.
Vallejo, CA
Average Salary: $74,090 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a hr specialist working in Vallejo, CA is $74,090, which is $19,780 more than the average pay in the profession.
