How much does a hr manager make?
Answer: A typical hr manager in the United States makes $149,280 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 221,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
HR manager pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $88,200 | $149,280 | $267,810 | about 221,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184,350 | about 2,000 |
| Massachusetts | $181,780 | about 8,000 |
| New York | $176,650 | about 18,000 |
| New Jersey | $172,440 | about 6,000 |
| California | $170,080 | about 27,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience and responsibility, HR specialty, employer industry and size, and location. Certification may help qualify someone for a role; most HR managers work regular business hours, and some work longer.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a hr manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization. Excludes managers who primarily focus on compensation and benefits (11-3111) and training and development (11-3131).
What's a typical day like?
They review job openings and hiring plans, answer employees’ questions, and help settle workplace disputes. They also guide the HR team and check benefits, training, payroll, and workplace rules.
How to get this job
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree in HR or a related field, then build several years of experience; some start as HR or labor-relations specialists. Certification is voluntary, though some employers prefer or require it.
Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
In the U.S., HR managers may help run day-care programs and employee-award projects—not just hiring.
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Management jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/11-3121.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes113121.htm
- www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/benefits-compensation/hr-compensation-pays-to-spe
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY