Jobs Similar to Human Resources Managers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to human resources managers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Compensation and Benefits Managers, Labor Relations Specialists and Human Resources Specialists.
Human Resources Managers: $149,280 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Human Resources Managers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Compensation and Benefits ManagersSame group | 86% | $149,2300% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Labor Relations Specialists | 85% | $95,420−36% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Human Resources Specialists | 84% | $75,940−49% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Social and Community Service Managers | 84% | $80,390−46% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Medical and Health Services Managers | 84% | $123,860−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | 83% | $78,210−48% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 83% | $104,590−30% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Financial ManagersSame group | 83% | $166,570+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Chief Executives | 83% | $213,990+43% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Sales Managers | 83% | $148,270−1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 82% | $87,520−41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Training and Development ManagersSame group | 82% | $133,000−11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Gambling Managers | 82% | $93,220−38% | High school |
| 14 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 82% | $69,500−53% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 82% | $105,870−29% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Compliance Managers | 82% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Lodging Managers | 80% | $69,250−54% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Project Management Specialists | 80% | $102,320−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 80% | $79,520−47% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 80% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Compensation and Benefits Managers
86% similar · $149,230 (0%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Labor Relations Specialists
85% similar · $95,420 (−36%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Human Resources Specialists
84% similar · $75,940 (−49%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Social and Community Service Managers
84% similar · $80,390 (−46%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Medical and Health Services Managers
84% similar · $123,860 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
83% similar · $78,210 (−48%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Education Administrators, Postsecondary
83% similar · $104,590 (−30%) · Graduate degree
- 8Financial Managers
83% similar · $166,570 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Chief Executives
83% similar · $213,990 (+43%) · Graduate degree
- 10Sales Managers
83% similar · $148,270 (−1%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
82% similar · $87,520 (−41%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Training and Development Managers
82% similar · $133,000 (−11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Gambling Managers
82% similar · $93,220 (−38%) · High school
- 14First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
82% similar · $69,500 (−53%) · Training or associate
- 15Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
82% similar · $105,870 (−29%) · Graduate degree
- 16Compliance Managers
82% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Lodging Managers
80% similar · $69,250 (−54%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Project Management Specialists
80% similar · $102,320 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
80% similar · $79,520 (−47%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
80% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than human resources managers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for human resources managers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where human resources managers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Labor Relations Specialists (95)
- Human Resources Specialists (94)
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (93)
- Social and Community Service Managers (91)
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (90)
- Public Relations Managers (87)
- Medical and Health Services Managers (84)
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping (83)
- Sales Managers (83)
- Compliance Managers (82)
Questions about jobs like human resources managers
What jobs are most similar to human resources managers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Compensation and Benefits Managers (86% similar), Labor Relations Specialists (85% similar), Human Resources Specialists (84% similar), Social and Community Service Managers (84% similar) and Medical and Health Services Managers (84% similar).
Which jobs like human resources managers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Chief Executives ($213,990, +43%; usually a graduate degree) and Financial Managers ($166,570, +12%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with human resources managers ($149,280). Without more preparation than human resources managers usually need: Financial Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.