Human Resources Managers
SOC 11-3121 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Human Resources Managers is $136,350, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $154,740, and an estimated 200,600 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +12.5% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -4.5% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 5% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Human Resources Managers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $136,350 | $136,350 | 200,600 |
| 2022 | $130,000 | $135,351 | 181,360 |
| 2021 | $126,230 | $141,944 | 166,530 |
| 2020 | $121,220 | $142,714 | 156,600 |
Nominal change
+12.5%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-4.5%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+5%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
221,900
Projected 2034
233,000
Annual Openings
17,900
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Human Resources Managers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $136,350. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $175,620 | +28.8% | 14,260 |
| District of Columbia | $171,220 | +25.6% | 2,160 |
| Massachusetts | $170,840 | +25.3% | 6,690 |
| New Jersey | $167,880 | +23.1% | 5,590 |
| California | $166,920 | +22.4% | 27,980 |
| Washington | $163,850 | +20.2% | 4,800 |
| Virginia | $157,430 | +15.5% | 5,760 |
| Rhode Island | $150,820 | +10.6% | 350 |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $150,530 | +10.4% | 140 |
| Colorado | $149,340 | +9.5% | 3,170 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$81,060
25th Pct
$103,340
Median
$136,350
75th Pct
$182,120
90th Pct
—
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| GUMGUM, INC. | CA | 4 | $249,000 |
| Google LLC | CA | 3 | $249,000 |
| Velocity Global, LLC | FL | 3 | $260,000 |
| Lucid USA, Inc. | CA | 2 | $182,000 |
| Scale AI, Inc. | CA | 2 | $220,000 |
| KIK IT Inc | TX | 2 | $109,846 |
| TeamSuccess LLC dba HiEd Success | GA | 1 | $81,162 |
| Platanus Holding LLC | CA | 1 | $253,989 |
| NISUM TECHNOLOGIES INC | CA | 1 | $120,000 |
| Miracle Miles Technology LLC | CA | 1 | $242,674 |
| Noble Cares LLC | MN | 1 | $86,320 |
| Arval Technologies, Inc. | MI | 1 | $109,336 |
| PEPSICO BEVERAGE SALES, LLC | NY | 1 | $135,200 |
| Google LLC | NY | 1 | $171,000 |
| Giant Magellan Telescope Organization Corporation | CA | 1 | $113,500 |
| KBR, Inc. | MD | 1 | $160,425 |
| Cash Flow Portal, Inc. | FL | 1 | $89,394 |
| Systemonex IT Solution Inc | NJ | 1 | $162,240 |
| Barclays Services Corp. | NJ | 1 | $215,000 |
| Rio Tinto Services Inc. | IL | 1 | $107,245 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Management
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Management occupations →