Operations Specialties Managers

How to become a Human Resources Manager

Official title: Human Resources Managers

Also called: Employee Relations Manager, HR Admin Director (Human Resources Administration Director), HR Director (Human Resources Director), HR Manager (Human Resources Manager), HR Ops Manager (Human Resources Operations Manager), HR VP (Human Resources Vice President), Recruitment Director

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

Main tasks

Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
Negotiate bargaining agreements and help interpret labor contracts.
Advise managers on organizational policy matters, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes.
Plan and conduct new employee orientation to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives.
Analyze and modify compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

How to become one

Candidates typically need a combination of education and several years of related work experience to become a human resources manager. Although positions typically require a bachelor's degree, some require a master's degree.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 10 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $149,280 a year The middle half earn $111,110 to $199,290.
About 224,900 people work in this job now, and about 237,400 are projected by 2035. (+5.5%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Human Resources Manager?

How much does a Human Resources Manager earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $149,280 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $111,110 to $199,290.

Is a Human Resources Manager a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 224,900 to about 237,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Human Resources Manager?

Usually. 72% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Human Resources Manager?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.