Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Human Resources Managers
Human Resources Managers plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
Table of contents
What they do
Human Resources Managers plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
- Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts, and helping resolve work-related problems.
- Advise managers on organizational policy matters, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes.
- Analyze and modify compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
- Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Human Resources Managers serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts, and helping resolve work-related problems. They plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
A typical day for a Human Resources Manager will also include:
- Advise managers on organizational policy matters, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes.
- Maintain records and compile statistical reports concerning personnel-related data such as hires, transfers, performance appraisals, and absenteeism rates.
- Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
- Provide current and prospective employees with information about policies, job duties, working conditions, wages, opportunities for promotion, and employee benefits.
- Plan, organize, direct, control, or coordinate the personnel, training, or labor relations activities of an organization.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Human Resources Managers also plan and conduct new employee orientation to foster a positive attitude toward organizational objectives. They may also allocate human resources, ensuring appropriate matches between personnel.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Human Resources Managers perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures. They might also plan, organize, direct, control, or coordinate the personnel, training, or labor relations activities of an organization.
In addition, they analyze statistical data and reports to identify and determine causes of personnel problems and develop recommendations for improvement of the organization’s personnel policies and practices.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them study legislation, arbitration decisions, and collective bargaining contracts to assess industry trends.
To some Human Resources Managers, it is also their responsibility to maintain records and compile statistical reports concerning personnel-related data such as hires, transfers, performance appraisals, and absenteeism rates.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
75% said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they found their job meaningful.
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Pros
Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the highest-paid careers in the world.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Human Resources Managers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $71,180 to $91,730 per year or $34 to $44 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $208,000+ | $100+ |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $162,720 | $78 |
| Median | $121,220 | $58 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $91,730 | $44 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $71,180 | $34 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Human Resources Managers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $184440 | $88.67 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $183030 | $87.99 |
| Other Information Services | $181000 | $87.02 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $180180 | $86.62 |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming | $176290 | $84.75 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $174030 | $83.67 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $172890 | $83.12 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $164350 | $79.01 |
| Legal Services | $162200 | $77.98 |
| Software Publishers | $160750 | $77.29 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Human Resources Managers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Human Resources Managers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 22690 | $148140 | $71.22 |
| Local Government | 8540 | $111570 | $53.64 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 6850 | $156860 | $75.42 |
| Employment Services | 6510 | $130590 | $62.78 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 6470 | $144950 | $69.69 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 4590 | $132340 | $63.63 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 4270 | $125150 | $60.17 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 3940 | $120400 | $57.88 |
| State Government | 3330 | $94230 | $45.30 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | 3250 | $140440 | $67.52 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration
Labor and Industrial Relations
Organizational Behavior Studies
Labor Studies
Executive/Career Coaching
Organizational Leadership
Business Administration and Management
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Organizational Communication
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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