Jobs Similar to Human Resources Specialists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to human resources specialists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Human Resources Managers, Labor Relations Specialists and Human Resources Assistants.
Human Resources Specialists: $75,940 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 Specialists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Human Resources Managers | 84% | $149,280+97% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Labor Relations SpecialistsSame group | 84% | $95,420+26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | 84% | $50,610−33% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Compliance Managers | 84% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsSame group | 83% | $78,210+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | 83% | $76,590+1% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 83% | $149,230+97% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 82% | $69,500−8% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Equal Opportunity Representatives and OfficersSame group | 82% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Financial Managers | 82% | $166,570+119% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 81% | $104,590+38% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | 81% | $54,210−29% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Medical and Health Services Managers | 81% | $123,860+63% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Credit Counselors | 81% | $52,230−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Project Management SpecialistsSame group | 81% | $102,320+35% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Social and Community Service Managers | 81% | $80,390+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | 81% | $45,920−40% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Gambling Managers | 81% | $93,220+23% | High school |
| 19 | Lodging Managers | 80% | $69,250−9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Lawyers | 80% | $159,670+110% | Graduate degree |
- 1Human Resources Managers
84% similar · $149,280 (+97%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Labor Relations Specialists
84% similar · $95,420 (+26%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
84% similar · $50,610 (−33%) · Training or associate
- 4Compliance Managers
84% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
83% similar · $78,210 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
83% similar · $76,590 (+1%) · Training or associate
- 7Compensation and Benefits Managers
83% similar · $149,230 (+97%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
82% similar · $69,500 (−8%) · Training or associate
- 9Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
82% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Financial Managers
82% similar · $166,570 (+119%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Education Administrators, Postsecondary
81% similar · $104,590 (+38%) · Graduate degree
- 12Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
81% similar · $54,210 (−29%) · Training or associate
- 13Medical and Health Services Managers
81% similar · $123,860 (+63%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Credit Counselors
81% similar · $52,230 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Project Management Specialists
81% similar · $102,320 (+35%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Social and Community Service Managers
81% similar · $80,390 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
81% similar · $45,920 (−40%) · Training or associate
- 18Gambling Managers
81% similar · $93,220 (+23%) · High school
- 19Lodging Managers
80% similar · $69,250 (−9%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Lawyers
80% similar · $159,670 (+110%) · Graduate 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 specialists.
- Financial Managers82% similar · $166,570 (+119%)
- Human Resources Managers84% similar · $149,280 (+97%)
- Compensation and Benefits Managers83% similar · $149,230 (+97%)
- Medical and Health Services Managers81% similar · $123,860 (+63%)
- Project Management Specialists81% similar · $102,320 (+35%)
- Labor Relations Specialists84% similar · $95,420 (+26%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping84% similar · Training or associate
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants83% similar · Training or associate
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers82% similar · Training or associate
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs81% similar · Training or associate
- Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan81% similar · Training or associate
- Gambling Managers81% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for human resources specialists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where human resources specialists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping (89)
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs (86)
- Compliance Managers (84)
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants (82)
- Credit Counselors (81)
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (81)
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (81)
- Social and Community Service Managers (81)
- Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan (80)
- Lodging Managers (80)
Questions about jobs like human resources specialists
What jobs are most similar to human resources specialists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Human Resources Managers (84% similar), Labor Relations Specialists (84% similar), Human Resources Assistants (84% similar), Compliance Managers (84% similar) and Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (83% similar).
Which jobs like human resources specialists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Financial Managers ($166,570, +119%; usually a bachelor's degree), Lawyers ($159,670, +110%; usually a graduate degree) and Human Resources Managers ($149,280, +97%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with human resources specialists ($75,940). Without more preparation than human resources specialists usually need: Financial Managers, Human Resources Managers and Compensation and Benefits 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.