### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Human Resources Specialists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			human resources specialists imageMany human resources specialists interview applicants and help place workers.							
						Quick Facts:     Human Resources Specialists2023     Median Pay
            						$67,650     per year
										$32.53     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    874,500Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    6% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    51,400What Human Resources Specialists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, and interview job applicants and place newly hired workers in jobs. They also may handle compensation and benefits, training, and employee relations.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Human resources specialists generally work in office settings. Some, particularly recruitment specialists, travel to attend job fairs, visit college campuses, and meet with applicants. Most human resources specialists work full time during regular business hours. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
            
                                                How to Become a Human Resources Specialist
                                                
                        
To enter the occupation, human resources specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a related field.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for human resources specialists was $67,650 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of human resources specialists is projected to grow							 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 78,700 openings for human resources specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for human resources specialists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of human resources specialists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about human resources specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Human Resources Specialists Do 
            

			Human resource specialistsRecruitment specialists may distribute information at job fairs or online.			
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, and interview job applicants and place newly hired workers in jobs. They also may handle compensation and benefits, training, and employee relations.
Duties
Human resources specialists typically do the following:
Consult with employers to identify hiring needs
Interview job applicants about their relevant experience, education, and skills
Check applicants' references and backgrounds
Inform applicants about job details, such as duties, benefits, and working conditions
Hire or refer qualified applicants
Run or help with new employee orientation
Keep employment records and process paperworkHuman resources specialists often are trained in tasks for all disciplines of a human resources department. In addition to recruiting applicants and placing workers, human resources specialists help guide employees through human resources procedures and answer questions about an organization’s policies. They sometimes administer benefits, process payroll, and handle associated questions or problems. Some specialists focus more on strategic planning and hiring than on administrative duties. They also ensure that all human resources functions comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
The following are examples of types of human resources specialists:
***Human resources generalists*** handle all aspects of human resources work. Their duties include recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, and employee relations, as well as administering human resources policies, procedures, and programs.
***Recruitment specialists***, sometimes known as ***recruiters***or**“*talent acquisition specialists***,***”*** find, screen, and interview applicants for job openings in an organization. They search for applicants by posting listings, attending job fairs, and visiting college campuses. They also may test applicants, contact references, and extend job offers.
Some specialists focus on a certain area of human resources, such as retirement or training. For information about those who focus on an organization’s wage and nonwage programs for workers, see the profile on compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists. For information about those who plan and administer programs that improve workers’ skills and knowledge, see the profile on training and development specialists.
 Work Environment
			Human resource specialistsEmployment interviewers speak with applicants and ask them questions before referring them to appropriate jobs.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Human resources specialists held about 874,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of human resources specialists were as follows:
        Employment services
                18%Professional, scientific, and technical services
                13Healthcare and social assistance
                10Government
                9Manufacturing
                7Some organizations contract recruitment and placement work to outside firms, such as those in the employment services industry or the professional, scientific, and technical industry.
Work Schedules
Human resources specialists generally work in office settings. Some, particularly recruitment specialists, travel to attend job fairs, visit college campuses, and meet with applicants.
Most specialists work full time during regular business hours. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
 How to Become a Human Resources Specialist

			Human resource specialistsHuman resources specialists must usually have a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a related field.			
Human resources specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation.
Education
Human resources specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in human resources, business, communications, or a related field.
By working in an internship during college, students gain relevant experience that may be helpful in competing for human resources specialist jobs. Internships in human resources departments may help prospective specialists to increase their understanding of the occupation and to network in an industry.
Other Experience
Some positions require human resources specialists to have relevant work experience. Candidates may gain experience as human resources assistants (information clerks), customer service representatives, or in related occupations.
Employers also may prefer to hire candidates who have experience in areas such as personnel recruitment, staff training and development, employee relations, and compensation and benefits. Candidates sometimes get this experience while in college, either through courses or by volunteering.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Professional associations that specialize in human resources offer courses to enhance the skills of their members, and some offer certification programs. For example, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) offers a range of certifications for varying levels of expertise.
Certification usually requires that candidates pass an exam that covers human resources knowledge and asks candidates to apply their knowledge to different situations. Candidates for certification also typically need to meet minimum education and experience requirements.
Although certification is usually voluntary, some employers prefer or require it. Human resources generalists, in particular, may benefit from certification because it shows knowledge and professional competence across all human resources areas.
Advancement
Human resources specialists who have a thorough knowledge of their organization and its personnel regulations may advance to become human resources managers. Specialists may increase their chance of advancement by taking on new responsibilities or completing voluntary certification programs.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.***Listening and speaking skills are essential for human resources specialists. They must convey information effectively and respond to questions and concerns from employers, job applicants, and employees.
***Decision-making skills.*** Human resources specialists must use sound judgment when reviewing applicants’ qualifications or when working to resolve disputes.
***Detail oriented.*** Specialists must pay attention to detail when evaluating applicants’ qualifications, doing background checks, maintaining records of an employee grievance, and ensuring that a workplace complies with labor standards.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Specialists continually interact with others and must be able to converse and connect with people from varied backgrounds.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Human Resources SpecialistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Business operations specialists$78,500  Human resources specialists$67,650  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for human resources specialists was $67,650 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,900, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $121,800.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for human resources specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Government
                $78,290Professional, scientific, and technical services
                78,260Manufacturing
                76,200Healthcare and social assistance
                60,340Employment services
                54,410Some human resources specialists, particularly recruitment specialists, travel to attend job fairs, visit college campuses, and meet with applicants.
Most specialists work full time during regular business hours. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Human Resources SpecialistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Human resources specialists6%  Business operations specialists6%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of human resources specialists is projected to grow				 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 78,700 openings for human resources specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Employment growth is expected as human resources specialists are needed to explain increasingly complex employment laws and benefit options. At the same time, some companies may outsource human resources functions to organizations that provide these services, rather than directly employing human resources specialists.
			

                        Employment projections data for     human resources specialists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Human resources specialists**
			13-1071
			874,500
			925,900
			6
			51,400
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Human resources specialists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of human resources specialists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Compensation and Benefits Managers**
            Compensation and benefits managers plan, develop, and oversee programs to pay employees.
            Bachelor's degree
            $136,380**Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists**
            Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists oversee wage and nonwage programs that an organization provides to its employees in return for their work. They also evaluate position descriptions to determine details such as classification and salary.
            Bachelor's degree
            $74,530**Customer Service Representatives**
            Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and answer questions.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $39,680**Human Resources Managers**
            Human resources managers plan, coordinate, and direct the administrative functions of an organization.
            Bachelor's degree
            $136,350**Insurance Sales Agents**
            Insurance sales agents contact potential customers and sell one or more types of insurance.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $59,080**Labor Relations Specialists**
            Labor relations specialists resolve employee-management disputes and negotiate labor contracts.
            Bachelor's degree
            $89,980**Public Relations Specialists**
            Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the clients they represent.
            Bachelor's degree
            $66,750**Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents**
            Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents determine how much is owed in taxes and collect tax from individuals and businesses on behalf of the government.
            Bachelor's degree
            $58,530**Training and Development Managers**
            Training and development managers plan, coordinate, and direct skills- and knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff.
            Bachelor's degree
            $125,040**Training and Development Specialists**
            Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of their employees.
            Bachelor's degree
            $64,340
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about human resources careers and certification, visit
HR Certification Institute
International Public Management Association for Human Resources
Society for Human Resource Management
WorldatWork
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Human resources specialists (PDF)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Human Resources Specialists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Human Resources Specialists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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