Median Salary
$149,280
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$71.77
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$267,810
entry level starts ~$88,200
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 221,000 employed
How much does a Human Resource Managers make?
The median pay for a Human Resource Managers in the United States is $149,280 per year — about $71.77 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $88,200, while the most experienced Human Resources Managers in the top 10% earn $267,810.
That is $87,890 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Human Resource Managers salary range by percentile
Half of all Human Resources Managers earn between $111,110 and $199,290 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $88,200 | $42.40 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $111,110 | $53.42 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $149,280 | $71.77 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $199,290 | $95.81 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $267,810 | $128.75 |
|
Highest-paying states for Human Resource Managers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Human Resource Managers pay at $184,350 a year, followed by Massachusetts ($181,780) and New York ($176,650). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $106,100 — a gap of $78,250 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Human Resource Managers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
District of Columbia $184,350Massachusetts $181,780New York $176,650New Jersey $172,440California $170,080Rhode Island $167,110Colorado $166,400Virginia $165,980Connecticut $165,930Washington $165,530Delaware $153,890Minnesota $153,770Maryland $152,770Illinois $151,370Georgia $150,700North Carolina $142,990Oregon $140,570Arizona $139,820North Dakota $139,050Michigan $138,930Florida $137,790Texas $136,500New Hampshire $135,000Kansas $134,470Wisconsin $133,490Pennsylvania $133,060Vermont $132,050Tennessee $131,760Utah $131,380Missouri $130,680Ohio $130,480Indiana $130,340Maine $129,720Alaska $129,570Nebraska $129,460Hawaii $128,910Nevada $128,550Wyoming $127,520Iowa $126,370South Carolina $124,290Kentucky $121,460West Virginia $120,020Idaho $119,990New Mexico $118,070South Dakota $117,930Oklahoma $116,080Montana $115,280Alabama $113,210Arkansas $108,580Louisiana $107,880Mississippi $106,100
Workforce and education
About 221,000 people work as Human Resources Managers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $164,230 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Human Resource Managers make in the United States?
The median Human Resource Managers salary in the United States is $149,280 per year, or about $71.77 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $88,200, while the top 10% of earners make $267,810 or more.
How does Human Resource Managers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Human Resource Managers median of $149,280 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Human Resources Managers the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Human Resources Managers, with a median salary of $184,350 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Human Resource Managers?
Becoming a Human Resource Managers typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Human Resources Managers work in the United States?
About 221,000 people were employed as Human Resources Managers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other management roles with similar pay.
$114,130
median pay · 264,000 employed
$148,270
median pay · 637,000 employed
$105,870
median pay · 328,000 employed
$171,270
median pay · 220,000 employed
$93,330
median pay · 14,000 employed
$126,060
median pay · 246,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.