What Do Human Resources Manager Do?
Job Description & Duties Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
Life As a HR Manager
- Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
- Negotiate bargaining agreements and help interpret labor contracts.
- Analyze statistical data and reports to identify and determine causes of personnel problems and develop recommendations for improvement of organization’s personnel policies and practices.
- Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
- Oversee the evaluation, classification, and rating of occupations and job positions.
- Administer compensation, benefits, and performance management systems, and safety and recreation programs.
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What a HR Manager Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Human Resources Managers say are important on the job.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Employee Relations Manager
- Diversity Manager
- Human Services Manager
- Personnel Generalist Manager
- Recruiting Manager
HR Manager Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 136,100 jobs in the United States for Human Resources Manager. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 12,300 new jobs for Human Resources Manager by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 12,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for HR Manager are Washington, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
HR Manager Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Human Resources Managers is somewhere between $66,870 and $201,380.

Human Resources Managers who work in District of Columbia, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Human Resources Managers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $105,190 |
Alaska | $116,870 |
Arizona | $101,910 |
Arkansas | $105,000 |
California | $142,870 |
Colorado | $143,460 |
Connecticut | $143,990 |
Delaware | $144,060 |
District of Columbia | $162,410 |
Florida | $105,530 |
Georgia | $126,650 |
Hawaii | $104,300 |
Idaho | $85,290 |
Illinois | $119,160 |
Indiana | $101,910 |
Iowa | $110,610 |
Kansas | $107,810 |
Kentucky | $94,260 |
Louisiana | $90,490 |
Maine | $107,160 |
Maryland | $141,780 |
Massachusetts | $140,640 |
Michigan | $115,780 |
Minnesota | $122,330 |
Mississippi | $90,680 |
Missouri | $116,470 |
Montana | $99,360 |
Nebraska | $107,500 |
Nevada | $116,550 |
New Hampshire | $125,800 |
New Jersey | $169,040 |
New Mexico | $100,160 |
New York | $150,280 |
North Carolina | $126,060 |
North Dakota | $118,130 |
Ohio | $123,680 |
Oklahoma | $98,610 |
Oregon | $104,110 |
Pennsylvania | $130,260 |
Rhode Island | $154,460 |
South Carolina | $106,500 |
South Dakota | $96,480 |
Tennessee | $99,310 |
Texas | $128,310 |
Utah | $104,440 |
Vermont | $103,500 |
Virginia | $140,110 |
Washington | $134,070 |
West Virginia | $96,950 |
Wisconsin | $118,330 |
Wyoming | $97,760 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Human Resources Managers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Human Resources Managers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Publisher
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- IBM Cognos Impromptu
- Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
Becoming a HR Manager
What kind of Human Resources Manager requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Human Resources Managers Work?

Human Resources Managers work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Human Resources Manager may also be interested in:
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Sales Agents, Securities and Commodities
- General and Operations Managers
Are you already one of the many Human Resources Manager in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Marketing Managers
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
References:
Image Credit: Arunkumar Umapathy via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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