Human Resources Specialists: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
- Education Required
- Applicants seeking positions as a human resources specialist usually must have a bachelors degree in human resources, business, or a related field.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 7% (As fast as average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Advancement
- Human resources specialists who possess a thorough knowledge of their organization, as well as an understanding of regulatory compliance needs, can advance to becomehuman resources managers. Specialists can increase their chance of advancement by completing voluntary certification programs.
- Licenses/Certifications
- Many professional associations that specialize in human resources offer courses intended to enhance the skills of their members, and some offer certification programs. For example, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). In addition, the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) offers a range of certifications for varying levels of expertise.
- Median pay: How much do Human Resources Specialists make?
- $59,180 Annual Salary
- $28.45 per hour
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They often handle tasks related to employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training.
What do Human Resources Specialists do?
Human resources specialists typically do the following:
- Consult with employers to identify employment needs
- Interview applicants about their experience, education, and skills
- Contact references and perform background checks on job applicants
- Inform applicants about job details, such as duties, benefits, and working conditions
- Hire or refer qualified candidates for employers
- Conduct or help with new employee orientation
- Keep employment records and process paperwork
Human resources specialists are often trained in all human resources disciplines and perform tasks throughout all areas of the department. In addition to recruiting and placing workers, human resources specialists help guide employees through all human resources procedures and answer questions about policies. They sometimes administer benefits, process payroll, and handle any associated questions or problems, although many specialists may focus more on strategic planning and hiring instead of administrative duties. They also ensure that all human resources functions comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
The following are examples of types of human resources specialists:
Careers for Human Resources Specialists
- Corporate recruiters
- Credentialing coordinators
- Employee placement specialists
- HR specialists
- Human resources generalists
- Job placement officers
- Job placement specialists
- Job recruiters
- Personnel coordinators
- Personnel officers
- Personnel recruiters
- Placement specialists
- Recruitment specialists
- Staffing coordinators