In a 2018 survey of 102,000 HR professionals, 36.4% had at least one HR certification. Of those, 16.9% were PHR certified. While those with PHR certifications don’t see as dramatic an increase in earning potential as those with other certifications, PHR does seem to be a valuable stepping stone for other certifications.    The following examples show the salary difference between HR professionals with any type of HR certification vs. those with none and the percentage increase: HR Manager: $69,500 vs. $60,000 (15.8%) HR Administrator: $50,000 vs. $43,300 ($15.5%) HR Director: $90,000 vs. $80,000 (12.5%) HR Assistant: $39,500 vs. $35,400 (11.6%) HR Generalist: $54,500 vs. $50,000 (9.0%)