Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Human resources managers (SOC 11-3121) employed 220,660 people in May 2025. The median pay is $149,280 a year ($71.77 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $88,200 and the highest-paid 10% more than $267,810. BLS projects its employment to change by +5.5% between 2025 and 2035 (about 16,800 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more experience in a related occupation.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($184,350), Massachusetts ($181,780), New York ($176,650). Most jobs: California (27,450), Texas (23,220), New York (17,920).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $88,200 | $42.40 |
| 25th percentile | $111,110 | $53.42 |
| Median | $149,280 | $71.77 |
| Mean | $164,230 | $78.96 |
| 75th percentile | $199,290 | $95.81 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $267,810 | $128.75 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 224,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 237,400 |
| Change in jobs | 12,500 |
| Percent change | +5.5% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 16,800 |
| Self-employed share | 0.2% |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | 5 years or more |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2,160 | 0.72 | $113,210 | $70,520 | $195,570 | -24% | 11% |
| Alaska | 610 | 1.32 | $129,570 | $79,020 | $196,700 | -13% | 13% |
| Arizona | 3,950 | 0.86 | $139,820 | $88,410 | $225,500 | -6% | 14% |
| Arkansas | 1,290 | 0.70 | $108,580 | $62,370 | $218,830 | -27% | 11% |
| California | 27,450 | 1.06 | $170,080 | $96,430 | $307,600 | +14% | 15% |
| Colorado | 3,620 | 0.89 | $166,400 | $103,580 | $276,380 | +11% | 13% |
| Connecticut | 3,020 | 1.25 | $165,930 | $102,530 | $295,480 | +11% | 11% |
| Delaware | 580 | 0.84 | $153,890 | $85,760 | $273,790 | +3% | 12% |
| District of Columbia | 2,250 | 2.26 | $184,350 | $113,300 | $275,000 | +23% | 13% |
| Florida | 11,570 | 0.82 | $137,790 | $79,420 | $232,760 | -8% | 16% |
| Georgia | 7,270 | 1.05 | $150,700 | $89,790 | $271,170 | +1% | 12% |
| Hawaii | 710 | 0.80 | $128,910 | $84,030 | $200,010 | -14% | 18% |
| Idaho | 1,040 | 0.86 | $119,990 | $82,250 | $200,480 | -20% | 14% |
| Illinois | 13,520 | 1.56 | $151,370 | $90,820 | $267,520 | +1% | 10% |
| Indiana | 3,030 | 0.67 | $130,340 | $85,230 | $213,640 | -13% | 10% |
| Iowa | 1,620 | 0.73 | $126,370 | $86,190 | $206,900 | -15% | 9% |
| Kansas | 1,290 | 0.63 | $134,470 | $91,990 | $219,980 | -10% | 10% |
| Kentucky | 1,960 | 0.69 | $121,460 | $76,520 | $194,280 | -19% | 10% |
| Louisiana | 1,390 | 0.50 | $107,880 | $75,690 | $177,870 | -28% | 12% |
| Maine | 700 | 0.76 | $129,720 | $74,150 | $207,160 | -13% | 11% |
| Maryland | 3,820 | 0.97 | $152,770 | $92,630 | $236,830 | +2% | 14% |
| Massachusetts | 7,540 | 1.46 | $181,780 | $99,990 | $315,700 | +22% | 12% |
| Michigan | 5,890 | 0.94 | $138,930 | $88,990 | $224,880 | -7% | 10% |
| Minnesota | 4,370 | 1.04 | $153,770 | $97,840 | $230,980 | +3% | 10% |
| Mississippi | 720 | 0.43 | $106,100 | $73,320 | $193,370 | -29% | 11% |
| Missouri | 3,510 | 0.84 | $130,680 | $81,730 | $225,160 | -12% | 10% |
| Montana | 530 | 0.74 | $115,280 | $81,330 | $186,460 | -23% | 12% |
| Nebraska | 1,660 | 1.14 | $129,460 | $81,990 | $205,180 | -13% | 10% |
| Nevada | 1,520 | 0.69 | $128,550 | $77,230 | $257,400 | -14% | 16% |
| New Hampshire | 1,150 | 1.19 | $135,000 | $79,120 | $221,970 | -10% | 14% |
| New Jersey | 6,400 | 1.05 | $172,440 | $108,040 | $294,570 | +16% | 13% |
| New Mexico | 820 | 0.66 | $118,070 | $78,000 | $198,230 | -21% | 11% |
| New York | 17,920 | 1.30 | $176,650 | $105,380 | $321,880 | +18% | 11% |
| North Carolina | 6,480 | 0.92 | $142,990 | $90,390 | $260,610 | -4% | 11% |
| North Dakota | 290 | 0.47 | $139,050 | $89,990 | $223,390 | -7% | 8% |
| Ohio | 8,040 | 1.02 | $130,480 | $81,940 | $218,740 | -13% | 10% |
| Oklahoma | 1,750 | 0.72 | $116,080 | $73,590 | $200,250 | -22% | 11% |
| Oregon | 2,810 | 1.01 | $140,570 | $92,900 | $238,590 | -6% | 14% |
| Pennsylvania | 8,230 | 0.96 | $133,060 | $80,940 | $222,690 | -11% | 11% |
| Rhode Island | 530 | 0.74 | $167,110 | $106,480 | $268,040 | +12% | 10% |
| South Carolina | 2,400 | 0.73 | $124,290 | $70,840 | $209,380 | -17% | 12% |
| South Dakota | 420 | 0.65 | $117,930 | $83,780 | $176,930 | -21% | 10% |
| Tennessee | 4,310 | 0.93 | $131,760 | $85,160 | $218,300 | -12% | 12% |
| Texas | 23,220 | 1.16 | $136,500 | $83,200 | $226,050 | -9% | 13% |
| Utah | 2,240 | 0.91 | $131,380 | $80,460 | $216,880 | -12% | 15% |
| Vermont | 360 | 0.84 | $132,050 | $91,650 | $214,350 | -12% | 12% |
| Virginia | 5,770 | 0.99 | $165,980 | $105,130 | $272,070 | +11% | 12% |
| Washington | 4,560 | 0.90 | $165,530 | $108,830 | $271,380 | +11% | 13% |
| West Virginia | 510 | 0.52 | $120,020 | $76,720 | $214,920 | -20% | 9% |
| Wisconsin | 3,730 | 0.89 | $133,490 | $91,520 | $215,620 | -11% | 10% |
| Wyoming | 140 | 0.34 | $127,520 | $87,750 | $200,070 | -15% | 9% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,800 | $220,460 | $124,990 | $397,910 | 1.74 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 4,960 | $209,340 | $123,950 | $323,850 | 1.47 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 990 | $191,190 | $116,020 | $318,840 | 1.73 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 18,480 | $185,100 | $107,300 | $323,820 | 1.37 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6,480 | $184,990 | $99,990 | $317,690 | 1.69 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,280 | $177,960 | $111,720 | $282,330 | 1.41 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,200 | $171,360 | $111,060 | $291,480 | 1.08 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2,540 | $170,940 | $109,540 | $277,530 | 1.11 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,070 | $168,400 | $98,810 | $299,740 | 1.02 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 730 | $163,290 | $103,380 | $265,010 | 0.73 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,300 | $163,190 | $97,050 | $282,400 | 1.05 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 380 | $162,230 | $79,890 | $268,280 | 0.84 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 530 | $161,720 | $111,100 | $294,180 | 1.55 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,300 | $161,250 | $95,080 | $286,790 | 1.29 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 630 | $160,580 | $103,300 | $298,410 | 1.28 |
| Worcester, MA | 460 | $160,470 | $94,570 | $296,420 | 0.93 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3,500 | $159,390 | $101,350 | $250,810 | 1.26 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,310 | $158,930 | $99,310 | $292,290 | 1.20 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,130 | $158,180 | $102,860 | $254,990 | 1.32 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 10,810 | $156,770 | $93,230 | $270,150 | 1.69 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,300 | $155,360 | $86,210 | $295,790 | 0.85 |
| Peoria, IL | 310 | $154,490 | $81,310 | $260,040 | 1.32 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,190 | $154,490 | $91,650 | $261,930 | 1.02 |
| New Haven, CT | 360 | $153,820 | $87,430 | $252,090 | 0.91 |
| Richmond, VA | 960 | $152,190 | $99,800 | $253,890 | 1.02 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 590 | $150,180 | $85,030 | $235,770 | 0.78 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,090 | $149,980 | $97,340 | $232,790 | 1.14 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,010 | $148,900 | $100,790 | $258,630 | 1.17 |
| Rochester, NY | 680 | $146,990 | $92,050 | $247,310 | 0.97 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,980 | $146,370 | $87,150 | $232,080 | 1.03 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,160 | $145,610 | $90,750 | $229,350 | 0.94 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,080 | $144,190 | $93,220 | $264,980 | 1.03 |
| Fresno, CA | 400 | $143,180 | $89,920 | $211,600 | 0.60 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,550 | $142,940 | $83,470 | $226,200 | 0.89 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 330 | $142,600 | $79,990 | $222,460 | 1.18 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,890 | $142,110 | $88,380 | $224,150 | 1.26 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,970 | $140,890 | $89,990 | $232,540 | 1.39 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,380 | $140,890 | $91,780 | $220,570 | 0.89 |
| Madison, WI | 660 | $140,680 | $92,950 | $206,920 | 1.13 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 2,730 | $140,670 | $85,840 | $254,960 | 1.49 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 680 | $140,410 | $99,270 | $217,170 | 0.63 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,830 | $140,400 | $80,430 | $240,090 | 0.89 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,630 | $139,010 | $59,940 | $231,810 | 0.67 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 760 | $138,560 | $86,900 | $219,780 | 0.87 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 520 | $138,140 | $91,450 | $233,690 | 0.91 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 420 | $137,560 | $78,860 | $321,640 | 1.08 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 320 | $137,550 | $83,560 | $218,750 | 0.78 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 320 | $137,110 | $88,000 | $224,390 | 0.83 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,190 | $136,530 | $96,770 | $225,010 | 1.02 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,530 | $136,230 | $80,300 | $241,870 | 0.76 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 1,300 | $135,770 | $89,310 | $219,950 | 0.83 |
| Anchorage, AK | 320 | $135,480 | $92,020 | $211,830 | 1.26 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,840 | $135,230 | $89,130 | $225,240 | 1.18 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,520 | $134,380 | $82,390 | $223,630 | 1.04 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,040 | $133,950 | $69,630 | $223,050 | 0.95 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,940 | $133,880 | $84,630 | $247,350 | 1.02 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,290 | $133,620 | $82,990 | $224,480 | 1.10 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 420 | $133,320 | $88,400 | $230,770 | 0.82 |
| Knoxville, TN | 530 | $132,200 | $83,290 | $233,640 | 0.88 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 750 | $132,100 | $87,540 | $216,360 | 0.89 |
The median is $149,280 a year ($71.77 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $88,200 and the highest-paid tenth over $267,810 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
220,660 in May 2025, and BLS projects +5.5% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $184,350 (among states with published figures).