Life As a Human Resources Specialist
HR Specialist Definition Perform activities in the human resource area. Includes employment specialists who screen, recruit, interview, and place workers.
Daily Life Of a HR Specialist
- Develop or implement recruiting strategies to meet current or anticipated staffing needs.
- Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork.
- Evaluate selection or testing techniques by conducting research or follow-up activities and conferring with management or supervisory personnel.
- Conduct reference or background checks on job applicants.
- Evaluate recruitment or selection criteria to ensure conformance to professional, statistical, or testing standards, recommending revisions, as needed.
- Conduct exit interviews and ensure that necessary employment termination paperwork is completed.
Featured schools near , edit
Skills Needed to be a HR Specialist
Human Resources Specialists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Types of HR Specialist Jobs
- Job Developer
- Employment Representative
- Headhunter
- Employee Adviser
- Registrar
Job Outlook for Human Resources Specialists
There were about 547,800 jobs for Human Resources Specialist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 38,900 new jobs for Human Resources Specialist by 2026. The BLS estimates 57,600 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for HR Specialist are Utah, Washington, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Mississippi, Maine, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
HR Specialist Salary
The typical yearly salary for Human Resources Specialists is somewhere between $36,270 and $104,390.

Human Resources Specialists who work in District of Columbia, Virginia, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Human Resources Specialists make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $60,660 |
Alaska | $71,160 |
Arizona | $60,820 |
Arkansas | $56,700 |
California | $75,010 |
Colorado | $69,420 |
Connecticut | $70,280 |
Delaware | $67,530 |
District of Columbia | $93,880 |
Florida | $58,600 |
Georgia | $60,230 |
Hawaii | $66,490 |
Idaho | $62,240 |
Illinois | $62,410 |
Indiana | $56,140 |
Iowa | $57,960 |
Kansas | $60,970 |
Kentucky | $57,000 |
Louisiana | $55,610 |
Maine | $58,980 |
Maryland | $76,560 |
Massachusetts | $75,700 |
Michigan | $62,470 |
Minnesota | $64,490 |
Mississippi | $52,030 |
Missouri | $62,790 |
Montana | $53,980 |
Nebraska | $58,720 |
Nevada | $58,610 |
New Hampshire | $63,960 |
New Jersey | $75,360 |
New Mexico | $61,300 |
New York | $75,650 |
North Carolina | $64,690 |
North Dakota | $60,230 |
Ohio | $62,790 |
Oklahoma | $54,940 |
Oregon | $62,640 |
Pennsylvania | $67,370 |
Rhode Island | $72,960 |
South Carolina | $57,590 |
South Dakota | $54,320 |
Tennessee | $58,700 |
Texas | $67,190 |
Utah | $56,960 |
Vermont | $59,200 |
Virginia | $75,120 |
Washington | $72,370 |
West Virginia | $61,240 |
Wisconsin | $61,180 |
Wyoming | $57,360 |
What Tools & Technology do Human Resources Specialists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Human Resources Specialists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- SAS
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
Becoming a HR Specialist
What education is needed to be a Human Resources Specialist?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Human Resources Specialists Are Employed

Human Resources Specialists work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Human Resources Specialist might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Human Resources Specialist in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Arunkumar Umapathy via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |