California Median
$83,500
per year
Hourly Rate
$40.14
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+10% vs US median
US median $75,940
State Rank
#6 of 51
104,000 employed here
How much does a Human Resources Specialist make in California?
A Human Resources Specialist working in California earns a median salary of $83,500 per year, or about $40.14 per hour. That is 10% above the national median of $75,940 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $52,770 while the top 10% make $151,410 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $66,060 and $117,430 a year.
Human Resources Specialist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,770 | $25.37 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $66,060 | $31.76 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $83,500 | $40.14 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $117,430 | $56.46 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $151,410 | $72.79 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories for Human Resources Specialist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Human Resources Specialist salary in other states
District of Columbia $110,970Massachusetts $85,630Washington $84,550New York $84,380Maryland $83,910Connecticut $82,890Virginia $82,090Colorado $80,840New Jersey $80,690Minnesota $78,760Oregon $78,060Vermont $77,800Delaware $77,700Rhode Island $77,560Alaska $76,990Illinois $76,820North Dakota $75,630Hawaii $73,750North Carolina $73,070Utah $71,750Maine $71,630Nevada $71,610Arizona $71,390Kansas $70,870New Hampshire $70,840Georgia $70,570Wisconsin $70,540Pennsylvania $70,450Ohio $70,180Michigan $69,520Kentucky $69,010Texas $68,920New Mexico $68,050South Dakota $67,590Tennessee $67,370Missouri $66,990Wyoming $66,970West Virginia $66,860Iowa $66,710Florida $66,410Indiana $65,600South Carolina $65,370Idaho $64,990Alabama $64,940Montana $63,790Nebraska $61,930Oklahoma $61,630Louisiana $61,300Mississippi $60,300Arkansas $55,010
Working as a Human Resources Specialist in California
Nationally, about 912,000 people work as Human Resources Specialists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($83,500) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Human Resources Specialist make in California?
The median Human Resources Specialist salary in California is $83,500 per year, or about $40.14 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $52,770 at the entry level to $151,410 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Human Resources Specialists about 10% more than the national median of $75,940. California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Human Resources Specialists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $83,500 a year. About 104,000 Human Resources Specialists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Human Resources Specialist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.