How to Become a Human Resources Specialist
Recruit, screen, and place people, and keep the employment machinery of an organization running fairly. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $75,940 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$75,940/yr
Middle half
$58,610 to $99,380
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
81,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Recruiting
- Interviewing
- Employment Law Basics
- Communication
- HRIS Tools
Helpful certifications
- SHRM-CP
- PHR (Professional in Human Resources)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
68/100
Work-life balance
70/100
Stress level
63/100
Related careers
- Training and Development Specialist$69,280 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Human Resources Specialist make?
The median pay for a Human Resources Specialist is $75,940 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $58,610 and $99,380 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Human Resources Specialist?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Communications, Liberal Arts and General Studies, and Ethnic and Gender Studies.
Is Human Resources Specialist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 81,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Human Resources Specialist use most?
Common skills for this role are Recruiting, Interviewing, Employment Law Basics, Communication, and HRIS Tools.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).