Human Resources Managers
Also called: Diversity and Inclusion Director, Diversity Manager, Efficiency Manager, Employee Relations Manager, Employee Welfare Manager, Employment Manager, HR Admin Director (Human Resources Administration Director), HR Coordinator (Human Resources Coordinator)
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
What human resources managers do
Typical tasks
- Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
- Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
- Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
- Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
- Negotiate bargaining agreements and help interpret labor contracts.
- Advise managers on organizational policy matters, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes.
- Plan and conduct new employee orientation to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives.
- Analyze and modify compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
- Identify staff vacancies and recruit, interview, and select applicants.
- Investigate and report on industrial accidents for insurance carriers.
- Analyze statistical data and reports to identify and determine causes of personnel problems and develop recommendations for improvement of organization's personnel policies and practices.
- Administer compensation, benefits, and performance management systems, and safety and recreation programs.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Human Resources Managers salary
The median annual wage for human resources managers is $149,280 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $88,200 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $267,810. The mean annual wage is $164,230.
The mean hourly wage of $78.00 is 10.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Human Resources Managers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $149,280 → in 3 years $162,100 → in 5 years $171,200 → in 10 years $196,300 (10-year range $168,800–$227,900). The model assumes pay growth of +2.8% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Human Resources Managers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Human Resources Managers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Human Resources Managers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Human Resources Managers United States | 人事課長 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $149,280 | ¥9.67M ≈ $61,479 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $196,300 | ¥10.82M |
| Outlook score | 62 | 47 |
| AI replacement risk | 60% Moderate | 75% High |
| Workers | 221K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Human Resources Managers
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become human resources managers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as human resources managers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.