Director of Human Resources Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
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The following article discusses the career path of Director of Human Resources. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Director of Human Resources.

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Job Duties

Directors of human resources can take on many different roles and responsibilities, and they can be found in any kind of organization. They often head numerous departments, having senior managers below them. A director of human resources is a strategic partner and the ambassador for the people within the organization. They deal with all the complaints and problems that arise on a daily basis, and focus on paperwork, payroll, and employee benefits.

These professionals also make sure that all policies and procedures are adhered to. They establish organizational goals, comply with all relevant professional standards, and meet the necessary federal and state laws and regulatory requirements. They are responsible for giving direction to issues, such as recruitment, training, and retention, coaching, team building, benefits, and leadership.

Other job duties of a director of human resources are:

  • To ensure all relevant HR programs, policy, and procedures are delivered in a consistent manner, thereby meeting the organizational goals, and complying with professional standards, laws, and regulations
  • To hold responsibility for all relevant human resources initiatives, which include recruitment, pay, employee benefits, training and development, and employee relations
  • To be responsible for business planning, staff operations, and budget development as it pertains to human resources

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 136,100 human resources managers in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were in the:

  • Management of companies and enterprises: 14%
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services: 13%
  • Manufacturing: 13%
  • Government: 10%
  • Healthcare and social assistance: 9%

How to Become

A bachelor’s degree is required as a minimum, but most directors of human resources hold a master’s degree. Typically, they have a major in business administration or in human resources. It is also beneficial to gain additional certifications.

Education Requirements

Directors of human resources will generally need a bachelor’s degree in a field related to human resources. This includes information technology, education, business management, and finance. It is helpful to also complete courses in fields such as industrial psychology or conflict management. It is becoming more common for these professionals to hold a master’s degree, particularly the master of business administration (MBA), or a master’s in labor relations or human resources.

Work experience is also of great importance. A director of human resources must be able to lead, direct, and organize other people. Often, they start as labor relations or human resources specialists and work their way up. They must also have demonstrable knowledge in local, state, and federal employment laws, human resources software, and compensation and benefits plans.

There is no legal requirement for a director of human resources to be certified or licensed, but it is beneficial. There are numerous professional associations, including the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, WorldatWork, the HR Certification Institute (HRCI), and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), that offer certifications.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective directors of human resources have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Excellent decision making skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Proven leadership skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Up to date computer skills

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Director of Human Resources was $93,347. This number is estimated from over 1,758,024 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $48.62 and monthly of $7,779.

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$25,000

$203,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Director of Human Resources salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $113,403 while Maine had the smallest quoted salary of $69,128.

AlabamaKentuckyNevada
ArkansasLouisianaNew York
ArizonaMassachusettsOhio
CaliforniaMarylandOregon
ColoradoMainePennsylvania
ConnecticutMichiganRhode Island
DCMinnesotaSouth Carolina
DelawareMissouriSouth Dakota
FloridaMississippiTennessee
GeorgiaMontanaTexas
IowaNorth CarolinaUtah
IllinoisNew HampshireVirginia
IndianaNew JerseyWashington
KansasNew MexicoWisconsin
Alabama – $84,436Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Auburn University, ITAC Solutions, Vaco, LLC, and Robert Half.

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$23,000

$182,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $90,354Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Brennan and Brennan Executive Search.

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$21,000

$206,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $82,081Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like AppleOne, Child Crisis Arizona, PSA Behavioral Health Agency, and City of Nogales.

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$22,000

$178,000

Salary Distribution
California – $109,570Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MUFG Union Bank, BizTek Recruitment, HLM Staffing Solutions, LLC, and Serrano Search, LLC.

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$37,000

$219,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $81,613Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Colorado Mountain College, PUEBLO CITY SCHOOLS, Red Rocks Community College, and Naropa University.

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$22,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $103,611Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bohan & Bradstreet, Inc. and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$27,000

$229,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $113,403Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Federal Government Jobs, CyberCoders, U.S. Government, and Department of Homeland Security.

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$39,000

$225,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $107,244Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Laurus- Accounting & Finance.

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$41,000

$204,000

Salary Distribution
Florida – $82,886Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of South Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, Aerotek, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$24,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $86,055Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Atlanta Public Schools, Vaco, LLC, Clinical Management Consultants, and Robert Half Management Resources.

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$24,000

$186,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $87,562Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, The Judge Group, Palmer Group, and The University of Iowa.

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$29,000

$178,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $96,527Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like OfficeTeam, CyberCoders, Hirewell, and HR Personnel Services.

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$27,000

$207,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $95,397Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Michael Page, fulltimeGiGS, Cameron Craig Group, and Career Development Partners.

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$26,000

$208,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $80,682Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Specialists Group LLC, The, The Specialists Group, and Larned State Hospital.

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$19,000

$183,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $76,842Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like U.S. Army.

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$19,000

$174,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $72,178Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting and State of Louisiana.

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$16,000

$168,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $103,164Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Minutemen staffing, North Star Staffing Solutions, Willmott & Associates, and City of Newton.

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$33,000

$211,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $89,228Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Judge Group, State of Maryland, Marcum Search LLC, and Department of Health and Human Services.

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$25,000

$192,000

Salary Distribution
Maine – $69,128Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Cumberland County.

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$21,000

$143,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $85,837Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Manpower, Northwestern Michigan College, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Diedre Moire.

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$23,000

$188,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $87,234Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Hr Personnel Services, Inc., State of Minnesota, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$22,000

$196,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $89,518Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Gainor Staffing, State Fair Community College, Bell & Associates, Inc., and StaffPointe.

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$20,000

$209,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi – $99,752Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Career Brokers, Inc., fulltimeGiGS, and 7SolutionsUSA.

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$38,000

$190,000

Salary Distribution
Montana – $72,500Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Recruiting With Results, NORTH STAR, Reach, Inc., and StaffPointe.

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$22,000

$150,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $84,424Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sherpa LLC, N Touch Wireless, Compass Center for Women and Families, and Robert Half Management Resources.

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$20,000

$192,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire – $77,936Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Nagler Group, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, HOTEL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, and Randstad.

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$23,000

$163,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $107,357Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Career Brokers, Inc., QSI Education, Oracle Recruiting, and Item Alignment, Inc..

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$33,000

$224,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $75,667Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like StaffPointe and NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT.

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$24,000

$154,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada – $86,718Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Truckee Meadows Community College and National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

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$23,000

$191,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $103,315Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Real Estate Investment Group, Marcum Search LLC, Addition Management, and EC1 Partners.

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$29,000

$223,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $90,956Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Willory, Cube Management, Printing/Publishing, Cincinnati / Dayton, OH, and Career Brokers, Inc..

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$25,000

$196,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $87,240Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Southern Oregon University, Ajilon, Groupe LEADER, and Eastern Oregon University.

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$22,000

$195,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $93,831Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Management Resources, Career Brokers, Inc., Randstad Professionals, and Juno Search Partners.

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$27,000

$200,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island – $83,493Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like City of Pawtucket, RI.

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$24,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $73,933Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, FGP International, University of South Carolina, and Willowglen Academy-SC.

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$17,000

$170,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota – $79,000Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like South Dakota State Government.

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$23,000

$168,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $94,029Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Hadden Group, The Judge Group, CyberCoders, and Career Brokers, Inc..

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$20,000

$222,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $88,618Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like StaffPointe, CIG, Mackenzie Stuart plc, and NextStep Recruiting.

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$23,000

$196,000

Salary Distribution
Utah – $84,117Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like HRmango and Talent Factory LLC.

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$22,000

$186,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $92,335Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Commonwealth of Virginia, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, United States Department Of Defense, and U.S. Government.

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$27,000

$195,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $98,283Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Olympic College, State of Washington, Groupe LEADER, and Edmonds Community College.

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$33,000

$197,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $85,865Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Chippewa Valley Family YMCA, and Medical Search International!.

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$26,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Director of Human Resources. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
Real Estate Investment GroupNew York$250,000
Mackenzie Stuart plcTexas$218,222
Diedre MoireMichigan$205,698
Cube ManagementOregon$203,095
The Hadden GroupTennessee$200,000
MUFG Union BankCalifornia$194,757
Marcum Search LLCNew York$184,330
AccessSourceGroupMichigan$177,184
Addition ManagementNew York$176,298
Minutemen staffingMassachusetts$175,000
North Star Staffing SolutionsMassachusetts$175,000
Michael PageIndiana$174,715
Career Brokers, Inc.New Jersey$172,467
Federal Government JobsDC$169,004
EC1 PartnersNew York$162,021
The Judge GroupTennessee$159,157
BizTek RecruitmentCalifornia$158,225
Gainor StaffingNew York$157,334

Learn More

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Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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