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Human resources assistant: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$50,610median pay per year, or $24.33 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,340lowest 10% earn less
  2. $44,03025th percentile
  3. $50,610median
  4. $59,80075th percentile
  5. $68,280top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median pay for a human resources assistant was $50,610 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to decline 6.2% from 2025 to 2035, although openings still occur each year[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-6.2%[2]
Openings per year
7,900[3]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[6]

How much do human resources assistants make?

BLS counts these workers as Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping. In May 2025 their median pay was $50,610 a year, or $24.33 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $52,250 a year, or $25.12 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,340 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $44,030[4]. The top-paid 25% earned more than $59,800, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $68,280[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $17.95 and the 90th percentile was $32.83[8]. BLS publishes percentile wages as boundaries, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 90,220 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median pay among the places with published data, at $59,050[12]. California followed at $57,590, then Washington at $57,390[12]. Alabama had the lowest median in that list, at $42,140[12].

California also had the most jobs at 11,490, then New York at 8,800 and Texas at 5,890[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $67,590[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA came next at $66,550[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, with 7,640 and a median of $56,850[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$59,050610
California$57,59011,490
Washington$57,3902,350
Maryland$56,8801,480
Alaska$56,510260
Rhode Island$56,370150
Massachusetts$55,8401,400
Colorado$54,8801,660
Minnesota$54,5203,380
New Jersey$54,4104,000
Connecticut$54,130910
Oregon$53,5501,050
North Dakota$53,000110
New York$52,9208,800
Virginia$51,9502,160
Vermont$51,810140
Idaho$51,770280
New Hampshire$51,400470
Delaware$50,850290
Kentucky$50,4001,240
Montana$50,070140
Maine$49,710490
Wyoming$49,66090
New Mexico$49,650620
Kansas$49,630660
Hawaii$49,260450
Pennsylvania$48,8002,700
Wisconsin$48,6901,890
Iowa$48,490920
Florida$48,3303,210
Illinois$48,3104,140
Ohio$48,3102,770
Michigan$48,2501,890
North Carolina$48,1902,790
Missouri$47,9601,090
Nevada$47,9001,390
Arizona$47,8901,490
Indiana$47,8501,870
Texas$47,5405,890
Louisiana$47,490750
Nebraska$47,130440
Georgia$46,8302,510
Arkansas$46,190720
Utah$45,790700
Tennessee$45,7603,930
South Carolina$45,3001,190
South Dakota$45,150190
Oklahoma$44,950600
Mississippi$44,7801,010
West Virginia$42,990480
Alabama$42,140960

How to become a human resources assistant

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile used for training details covers information clerks as a wider group, so it does not describe HR assistants alone[16].

The Handbook says HR assistants generally need an associate's degree, while other information clerk jobs usually qualify with a high school diploma[17]. In an O*NET survey of 37 workers, 34% said a bachelor's degree is required, 27% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree, and 21% said a high school diploma or equivalent[19]. That is a small survey.

With a bachelor's degree, some HR assistants may become human resources specialists[20]. Workers in this job handle confidential information and are expected to follow privacy rules[21].

What human resources assistants do

O*NET describes the job as keeping personnel records, including data on each employee[22]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

For the wider group of information clerks, BLS says they work in nearly every industry, and most work in offices[24]. For information clerks as a group, traveler accommodation was the largest employer group in 2025, at 19%[25]. Full-time work is common for the group[26].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of human resources assistants to decline 6.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 96,500 to 90,500 jobs, a change of 6,000 fewer jobs[2]. These counts include self-employed workers, who were 0.9% of the occupation in 2025[2][27]. For comparison, employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[28]. The OEWS count of 90,220 jobs is a separate measure covering wage and salary jobs only[11].

BLS lists one factor behind the decline. Organizations are combining administrative functions and using HR technology, so they need fewer of these assistants[29].

Even so, about 7,900 openings are projected each year on average[3]. These include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[3]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 5.6% move to a different occupation[30].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with pay close to the all-occupation median, at $50,610 against $50,980[1][5]. Entry typically requires an associate's degree[6]. The work centers on personnel records, benefits questions and orientations[23]. Employment is projected to shrink 6.2%, yet about 7,900 openings a year are still projected[2][3]. A bachelor's degree is a possible step toward a human resources specialist role[20].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[31].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a human resources assistant make an hour?
The median was $24.33 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $25.12[1][7].
How much does a human resources assistant make a year?
The median was $50,610 a year, compared with $50,980 for all occupations[1][5].
What degree do you need to be a human resources assistant?
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education[6].
Is human resources assistant a growing job?
BLS projects a 6.2% decline from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][28]. About 7,900 openings are projected each year[3].
What is the highest paying state for human resources assistants?
The District of Columbia had the highest median, at $59,050 a year[12]. Among the 50 states, California was highest at $57,590[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping in the US was $50,610 per year and $24.33 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping is projected to decline 6.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 96,500 to 90,500 jobs (a change of -6,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: about 7,900 openings for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping: 10th percentile $37,340, 25th percentile $44,030, 75th percentile $59,800, 90th percentile $68,280. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping was $52,250 per year and $25.12 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping: 10th percentile $17.95, 25th percentile $21.17, 75th percentile $28.75, 90th percentile $32.83. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 90,220 people were employed as Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping jobs: California 11,490; New York 8,800; Texas 5,890; Illinois 4,140; New Jersey 4,000. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $67,590; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $66,550; Rochester, MN $60,540; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $60,420; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $59,120; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $58,610; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $58,140; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $57,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,640 (median $56,850); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,890 (median $57,600); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,920 (median $49,590); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,350 (median $56,670); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,630 (median $52,150); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,630 (median $50,820). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Information Clerks" covers Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 43-4161.00 survey of workers (37 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 34%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 27%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 21%, Some College Courses 11%, Post-Secondary Certificate 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of information clerks in 2025: Traveler accommodation 19%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Employment Projections: 0.9% of Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  28. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping: Productivity change - share decreases as organizations combine their administrative functions and leverage HR technology, resulting in the need for fewer human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  31. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.