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 specialists (SOC 13-1071) employed 912,430 people in May 2025. The median pay is $75,940 a year ($36.51 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,180 and the highest-paid 10% more than $128,720. BLS projects its employment to change by +6.4% between 2025 and 2035 (about 73,700 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($110,970), Massachusetts ($85,630), Washington ($84,550). Most jobs: California (104,000), Texas (84,930), Florida (62,730).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| 25th percentile | $58,610 | $28.18 |
| Median | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Mean | $81,990 | $39.42 |
| 75th percentile | $99,380 | $47.78 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $128,720 | $61.88 |
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 | 939,700 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 999,700 |
| Change in jobs | 60,100 |
| Percent change | +6.4% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 73,700 |
| Self-employed share | 1.1% |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| 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 | 11,080 | 0.89 | $64,940 | $41,890 | $112,880 | -14% | 20% |
| Alaska | 1,420 | 0.74 | $76,990 | $49,910 | $114,330 | +1% | 23% |
| Arizona | 20,230 | 1.06 | $71,390 | $47,290 | $112,900 | -6% | 28% |
| Arkansas | 6,230 | 0.81 | $55,010 | $32,030 | $99,990 | -28% | 21% |
| California | 104,000 | 0.97 | $83,500 | $52,770 | $151,410 | +10% | 30% |
| Colorado | 19,450 | 1.15 | $80,840 | $51,290 | $133,850 | +6% | 27% |
| Connecticut | 9,010 | 0.91 | $82,890 | $51,000 | $134,810 | +9% | 22% |
| Delaware | 2,720 | 0.96 | $77,700 | $50,960 | $132,030 | +2% | 24% |
| District of Columbia | 6,910 | 1.68 | $110,970 | $65,280 | $170,330 | +46% | 21% |
| Florida | 62,730 | 1.08 | $66,410 | $44,920 | $115,920 | -13% | 33% |
| Georgia | 32,110 | 1.12 | $70,570 | $44,580 | $125,540 | -7% | 26% |
| Hawaii | 2,570 | 0.70 | $73,750 | $49,110 | $113,320 | -3% | 32% |
| Idaho | 3,930 | 0.78 | $64,990 | $43,820 | $102,490 | -14% | 26% |
| Illinois | 35,430 | 0.99 | $76,820 | $48,980 | $123,940 | +1% | 21% |
| Indiana | 17,110 | 0.91 | $65,600 | $44,810 | $106,830 | -14% | 20% |
| Iowa | 7,930 | 0.87 | $66,710 | $45,400 | $110,640 | -12% | 18% |
| Kansas | 7,560 | 0.90 | $70,870 | $47,340 | $115,920 | -7% | 18% |
| Kentucky | 10,900 | 0.93 | $69,010 | $43,690 | $107,940 | -9% | 17% |
| Louisiana | 7,240 | 0.64 | $61,300 | $39,170 | $100,420 | -19% | 21% |
| Maine | 3,020 | 0.80 | $71,630 | $45,850 | $105,840 | -6% | 20% |
| Maryland | 15,530 | 0.96 | $83,910 | $54,410 | $139,400 | +10% | 25% |
| Massachusetts | 27,300 | 1.28 | $85,630 | $57,500 | $145,130 | +13% | 26% |
| Michigan | 25,520 | 0.99 | $69,520 | $46,580 | $110,710 | -8% | 20% |
| Minnesota | 17,240 | 1.00 | $78,760 | $50,330 | $127,060 | +4% | 20% |
| Mississippi | 4,850 | 0.71 | $60,300 | $38,500 | $108,950 | -21% | 20% |
| Missouri | 17,650 | 1.02 | $66,990 | $44,730 | $110,660 | -12% | 19% |
| Montana | 2,340 | 0.78 | $63,790 | $44,990 | $108,180 | -16% | 22% |
| Nebraska | 7,220 | 1.20 | $61,930 | $42,730 | $98,480 | -18% | 21% |
| Nevada | 6,520 | 0.72 | $71,610 | $47,150 | $119,050 | -6% | 29% |
| New Hampshire | 4,270 | 1.07 | $70,840 | $47,700 | $122,560 | -7% | 26% |
| New Jersey | 21,690 | 0.86 | $80,690 | $56,420 | $132,770 | +6% | 27% |
| New Mexico | 4,090 | 0.80 | $68,050 | $46,620 | $117,170 | -10% | 20% |
| New York | 54,610 | 0.96 | $84,380 | $56,040 | $149,990 | +11% | 23% |
| North Carolina | 31,140 | 1.07 | $73,070 | $46,760 | $126,000 | -4% | 22% |
| North Dakota | 1,710 | 0.68 | $75,630 | $50,520 | $116,990 | -0% | 16% |
| Ohio | 33,500 | 1.03 | $70,180 | $45,950 | $118,340 | -8% | 19% |
| Oklahoma | 9,370 | 0.94 | $61,630 | $39,990 | $103,460 | -19% | 20% |
| Oregon | 10,620 | 0.92 | $78,060 | $51,480 | $126,280 | +3% | 25% |
| Pennsylvania | 36,960 | 1.04 | $70,450 | $46,610 | $119,850 | -7% | 21% |
| Rhode Island | 3,320 | 1.13 | $77,560 | $51,270 | $128,250 | +2% | 22% |
| South Carolina | 13,720 | 1.01 | $65,370 | $46,070 | $118,590 | -14% | 23% |
| South Dakota | 1,340 | 0.50 | $67,590 | $50,670 | $104,550 | -11% | 18% |
| Tennessee | 21,460 | 1.12 | $67,370 | $45,630 | $109,990 | -11% | 23% |
| Texas | 84,930 | 1.03 | $68,920 | $43,410 | $117,060 | -9% | 26% |
| Utah | 9,900 | 0.97 | $71,750 | $46,800 | $123,780 | -6% | 27% |
| Vermont | 1,270 | 0.71 | $77,800 | $55,510 | $114,090 | +2% | 20% |
| Virginia | 28,540 | 1.18 | $82,090 | $48,530 | $136,660 | +8% | 24% |
| Washington | 22,770 | 1.09 | $84,550 | $57,030 | $136,070 | +11% | 26% |
| West Virginia | 3,130 | 0.76 | $66,860 | $44,490 | $115,920 | -12% | 16% |
| Wisconsin | 17,360 | 1.01 | $70,540 | $47,860 | $105,270 | -7% | 19% |
| Wyoming | 1,000 | 0.60 | $66,970 | $44,630 | $115,790 | -12% | 18% |
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 | 7,970 | $112,140 | $66,260 | $186,570 | 1.20 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 16,420 | $103,140 | $61,500 | $171,420 | 1.18 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 24,450 | $100,830 | $60,940 | $158,940 | 1.33 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 330 | $98,170 | $59,590 | $158,600 | 0.80 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 440 | $94,520 | $53,170 | $126,440 | 2.08 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 14,120 | $92,770 | $58,610 | $153,960 | 1.15 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 710 | $90,290 | $59,880 | $138,170 | 1.28 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 21,770 | $90,270 | $58,280 | $146,660 | 1.37 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 52,370 | $89,780 | $58,140 | $155,480 | 0.94 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 1,410 | $86,700 | $59,620 | $114,560 | 1.85 |
| Boulder, CO | 1,480 | $86,200 | $56,420 | $159,370 | 1.31 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 2,350 | $85,550 | $55,430 | $147,700 | 0.99 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 450 | $84,690 | $59,060 | $135,020 | 0.78 |
| Napa, CA | 310 | $84,400 | $55,550 | $136,560 | 0.67 |
| Rochester, MN | 500 | $83,810 | $57,380 | $127,380 | 0.70 |
| Vallejo, CA | 650 | $83,160 | $59,730 | $136,220 | 0.76 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 3,460 | $82,920 | $50,610 | $132,790 | 0.98 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 12,520 | $82,550 | $53,130 | $135,870 | 1.33 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,230 | $82,510 | $51,990 | $130,530 | 0.75 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 610 | $82,430 | $48,880 | $137,200 | 0.90 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 7,930 | $82,380 | $53,820 | $132,620 | 1.00 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 920 | $81,540 | $50,090 | $130,920 | 0.76 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 9,110 | $81,300 | $51,780 | $140,130 | 1.01 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 620 | $81,290 | $54,110 | $134,140 | 0.82 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2,370 | $81,100 | $51,340 | $133,450 | 1.18 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 5,360 | $80,950 | $51,270 | $132,290 | 0.85 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 310 | $80,770 | $52,420 | $132,970 | 0.81 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,710 | $80,560 | $51,250 | $135,780 | 0.90 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 870 | $80,340 | $57,490 | $134,950 | 0.74 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 1,400 | $80,340 | $53,890 | $127,730 | 0.99 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 12,660 | $80,330 | $50,690 | $129,850 | 1.11 |
| Salem, OR | 1,070 | $80,270 | $53,380 | $112,850 | 0.97 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 36,850 | $80,220 | $51,730 | $134,130 | 1.00 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 7,610 | $80,100 | $54,780 | $133,570 | 1.07 |
| Salinas, CA | 630 | $80,100 | $51,630 | $135,110 | 0.58 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 710 | $79,850 | $49,730 | $129,610 | 0.76 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 1,420 | $79,670 | $49,920 | $124,900 | 1.34 |
| Richmond, VA | 4,540 | $79,340 | $47,980 | $127,420 | 1.17 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 460 | $79,040 | $48,380 | $125,050 | 1.15 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,800 | $79,000 | $48,890 | $127,240 | 0.97 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 600 | $78,920 | $58,410 | $111,530 | 0.86 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 1,060 | $78,850 | $54,710 | $119,430 | 3.52 |
| Springfield, IL | 950 | $78,840 | $51,130 | $110,390 | 1.61 |
| Huntsville, AL | 1,630 | $78,780 | $47,880 | $132,570 | 1.04 |
| Midland, TX | 580 | $78,650 | $48,710 | $120,730 | 0.81 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 900 | $78,520 | $48,980 | $128,660 | 0.90 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 8,930 | $78,330 | $48,150 | $130,610 | 1.12 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 26,470 | $78,210 | $49,580 | $125,220 | 1.00 |
| Bellingham, WA | 430 | $78,160 | $55,040 | $123,070 | 0.80 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,310 | $78,100 | $48,060 | $112,260 | 0.78 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 610 | $78,020 | $58,540 | $124,940 | 0.86 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 470 | $77,920 | $45,760 | $122,930 | 1.06 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 1,040 | $77,840 | $51,470 | $128,840 | 0.66 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 1,110 | $77,770 | $48,150 | $123,170 | 0.86 |
| Springfield, MA | 1,030 | $77,740 | $51,820 | $121,940 | 0.87 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 510 | $77,730 | $47,220 | $135,760 | 0.80 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 430 | $77,380 | $51,860 | $108,380 | 0.44 |
| Worcester, MA | 2,050 | $77,290 | $51,360 | $128,250 | 1.00 |
| Syracuse, NY | 1,280 | $77,190 | $51,150 | $125,510 | 0.73 |
| Modesto, CA | 730 | $77,070 | $48,890 | $120,330 | 0.64 |
The median is $75,940 a year ($36.51 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,180 and the highest-paid tenth over $128,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
912,430 in May 2025, and BLS projects +6.4% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $110,970 (among states with published figures).