Human Resources Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
Also called: Diversity and Inclusion Director, Diversity Manager, Efficiency Manager, Employee Relations Manager, Employee Welfare Manager, Employment Manager
Median pay
$149,280
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$88,200 – $267,810
People employed
220,660
Holland code
ECS
Enterprising · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 4.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
The hard parts
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Tight deadlines are common
Human Resources Managers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What human resources managers do
- 01Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
- 02Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
- 03Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
- 04Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
- 05Negotiate bargaining agreements and help interpret labor contracts.
- 06Advise managers on organizational policy matters, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from human resources managers
- Compliance Managers86% · group pay
- Public Relations Managers84% · −2%
- Medical and Health Services Managers83% · −17%
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists83% · +30%
- Sales Managers83% · −1%
Change into human resources managers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Labor Relations Specialists95% · $95,420
- Human Resources Specialists94% · $75,940
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists93% · $78,210
- Social and Community Service Managers91% · $80,390
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers90% · $80,730
Majors that lead here
- Organizational Communication, General
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Organizational Leadership
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
- Labor and Industrial Relations
- Organizational Behavior Studies
- Labor Studies
- Executive/Career Coaching
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.