Human Resources Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization. Oversee recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and training of new staff.
Human Resources Managers plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization. Oversee recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and training of new staff. The role reports a median annual salary of $140,030 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $81,060 and $221,390 and is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Psychology
- Economics and Accounting
A day in the life
Your day starts with a review of open requisitions and candidate pipelines, followed by a meeting with department heads about their hiring needs and team dynamics. Mid-morning you might mediate a workplace conflict, update the company's benefits package, or finalize a new diversity-and-inclusion initiative. Afternoons could include reviewing compensation data to stay competitive, coaching a manager on performance feedback, or leading an onboarding session for new employees. The role is all about people—reading between the lines in interviews, shaping company culture, and making sure every employee feels valued and supported.
Frequently asked questions
What does Human Resources Managers do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization. Oversee recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and training of new staff.
What does a typical day look like in Human Resources Managers?
Your day starts with a review of open requisitions and candidate pipelines, followed by a meeting with department heads about their hiring needs and team dynamics. Mid-morning you might mediate a workplace conflict, update the company's benefits package, or finalize a new diversity-and-inclusion initiative. Afternoons could include reviewing compensation data to stay competitive, coaching a manager on performance feedback, or leading an onboarding session for new employees.
How much does Human Resources Managers earn?
The median annual salary for Human Resources Managers in the US is $140,030. The middle 80% of workers earn between $81,060 and $221,390 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $103,020 and $180,530.
What is the job outlook for Human Resources Managers?
The role is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 221,900 workers.
How do I become human resources managers?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Human Resources Managers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Human Resources Managers?
Our AI-durability model gives Human Resources Managers a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Human Resources Managers has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.
Is Human Resources Managers right for you?
Take the Holland test + Big-5 to see how well this career matches your profile.
Get personalised fit →