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HR generalist: 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.

$75,940median pay per year, or $36.51 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $47,180lowest 10% earn less
  2. $58,61025th percentile
  3. $75,940median
  4. $99,38075th percentile
  5. $128,720top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

HR generalists fall under the BLS category Human Resources Specialists[1], which had a median pay of $75,940 a year in May 2025[2]. Jobs are projected to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+6.4%[3]
Openings per year
73,700[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do HR generalists make?

The BLS title for this work is Human Resources Specialists, and HR Generalist is a title workers report[1]. The median wage was $75,940 a year, or $36.51 an hour, in May 2025[2]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[2]. The mean wage was $81,990 a year, or $39.42 an hour[8].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,180 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $58,610[4]. At the top, the highest-paid 25% earned more than $99,380, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $128,720[4]. In hourly terms, those four boundaries were $22.69, $28.18, $47.78 and $61.89[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[10].

For comparison, the median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[5].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[11]. About 912,430 people held these jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

By median annual wage, the District of Columbia came first at $110,970[13]. Massachusetts ($85,630), Washington ($84,550), New York ($84,380) and Maryland ($83,910) followed in that order[13]. Arkansas had the lowest published median, $55,010[13].

California had the most jobs, 104,000, followed by Texas (84,930), Florida (62,730), New York (54,610) and Pennsylvania (36,960)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $112,140[15]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($103,140) and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ($100,830) came next[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 52,370, with a median of $89,780[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[13]$110,9706,910
Massachusetts$85,63027,300
Washington$84,55022,770
New York$84,38054,610
Maryland$83,91015,530
California$83,500104,000
Connecticut$82,8909,010
Virginia$82,09028,540
Colorado$80,84019,450
New Jersey$80,69021,690
Minnesota$78,76017,240
Oregon$78,06010,620
Vermont$77,8001,270
Delaware$77,7002,720
Rhode Island$77,5603,320
Alaska$76,9901,420
Illinois$76,82035,430
North Dakota$75,6301,710
Hawaii$73,7502,570
North Carolina$73,07031,140
Utah$71,7509,900
Maine$71,6303,020
Nevada$71,6106,520
Arizona$71,39020,230
Kansas$70,8707,560
New Hampshire$70,8404,270
Georgia$70,57032,110
Wisconsin$70,54017,360
Pennsylvania$70,45036,960
Ohio$70,18033,500
Michigan$69,52025,520
Kentucky$69,01010,900
Texas$68,92084,930
New Mexico$68,0504,090
South Dakota$67,5901,340
Tennessee$67,37021,460
Missouri$66,99017,650
Wyoming$66,9701,000
West Virginia$66,8603,130
Iowa$66,7107,930
Florida$66,41062,730
Indiana$65,60017,110
South Carolina$65,37013,720
Idaho$64,9903,930
Alabama$64,94011,080
Montana$63,7902,340
Nebraska$61,9307,220
Oklahoma$61,6309,370
Louisiana$61,3007,240
Mississippi$60,3004,850
Arkansas$55,0106,230

How to become an HR generalist

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education for human resources specialists[7]. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[7].

Certification is usually voluntary, but some employers prefer or require it[21]. It usually involves an exam plus minimum education and experience requirements[22]. Professional associations offer courses and some run certification programs[23]. BLS says generalists in particular may benefit, since certification shows knowledge across all HR areas[21].

Specialists who know their organization and its personnel rules well may move up to human resources manager[24]. The facts here do not say how many years the path takes.

What HR generalists do

O*NET describes the work as recruiting, screening, interviewing or placing people, with other tasks across HR areas possible[25]. Common tasks include:

Workers reported job titles such as Corporate Recruiter, HR Coordinator and Personnel Analyst[1]. BLS names communication, decision-making and attention to detail as important qualities[27][28][29].

Where they work

Human resources specialists generally work in offices[30]. Some, especially recruiters, travel to job fairs, college campuses and meetings with applicants[30]. Most work full time in regular business hours, and some work more than 40 hours a week[31].

The largest employer group in 2025 was professional, scientific and technical services, at 13% of jobs[32]. Some organizations hand recruiting and placement to outside firms[33]. Only 1.1% of these workers were self-employed in 2025[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 939,700 to 999,700 jobs[3]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[35]. These counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the wage-and-salary count above[3].

BLS projects about 73,700 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs created when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.5% of workers leave the labor force and 4.5% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay sits above the all-occupations median[2][5]. Projected growth is faster than the all-occupations rate, and BLS projects about 73,700 openings a year[3][35][6]. The entry path usually needs a bachelor's degree[7]. Pay varies a lot by place and by individual, from under $47,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to above $128,720 for the top 10%[4]. The tasks involve office work, hiring and explaining workplace rules[26][30].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an HR generalist make an hour?
The BLS median for human resources specialists was $36.51 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $39.42[2][8].
What degree do you need to be an HR generalist?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[7]. Fields named are human resources, business, communications or a related field[17].
Is HR generalist in demand?
BLS projects 6.4% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 73,700 openings a year[3][35][6].
What is the highest paying state for HR generalists?
The District of Columbia had the highest median, $110,970[13]. Massachusetts came next at $85,630[13].

Facts and sources

  1. O*NET 13-1071.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Corporate Recruiter, Employment Representative, HR Analyst (Human Resources Analyst), HR Coordinator (Human Resources Coordinator), HR Generalist (Human Resources Generalist), Human Resources Representative (HR Rep), Human Resources Specialist (HR Specialist), Personnel Analyst. O*NET OnLine
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Human Resources Specialists in the US was $75,940 per year and $36.51 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Human Resources Specialists is projected to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 939,700 to 999,700 jobs (a change of +60,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Human Resources Specialists: 10th percentile $47,180, 25th percentile $58,610, 75th percentile $99,380, 90th percentile $128,720. 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: about 73,700 openings for Human Resources Specialists 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
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Human Resources Specialists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Human Resources Specialists was $81,990 per year and $39.42 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Human Resources Specialists: 10th percentile $22.69, 25th percentile $28.18, 75th percentile $47.78, 90th percentile $61.89. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 912,430 people were employed as Human Resources Specialists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Human Resources Specialists jobs: California 104,000; Texas 84,930; Florida 62,730; New York 54,610; Pennsylvania 36,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $112,140; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $103,140; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $100,830; Lexington Park, MD $98,170; Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $94,520; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $92,770; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $90,290; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $90,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Human Resources Specialists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 52,370 (median $89,780); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 36,850 (median $80,220); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 29,190 (median $70,700); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 26,470 (median $78,210); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 24,450 (median $100,830); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 21,770 (median $90,270). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Human Resources Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Human Resources Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of human resources specialists in 2025: Professional, scientific, and technical services 13%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 1.1% of Human Resources Specialists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Human Resources Specialists: 2.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. 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.

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.