Management
Human Resources Managers
Also called: Employee Relations Manager, HR Admin Director (Human Resources Administration Director), HR Director (Human Resources Director), HR Manager (Human Resources Manager)
US median pay
$149,280
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.5%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
16,800
224,900 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Management of Personnel Resources4.2/5
- Coordination4.1/5
- Time Management4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Systems Evaluation3.9/5
- Negotiation3.9/5
Knowledge
- Personnel and Human Resources4.9/5
- English Language4.3/5
- Administration and Management4.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Education and Training3.9/5
- Law and Government3.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree82%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.