SalaryScoutHome › hr specialist salary by state
HR Specialist Salary by State (2026): Complete Table + FAQs
Human resources specialists manage hiring benefits and employee relations in every sector. This state-by-state table from the latest official U.S. BLS OEWS release shows hourly monthly and yearly wages.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS (latest release) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
Hr Specialist pay by state at a glance
| State | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $55.78 | $9,668 | $116,020 |
| Massachusetts | $45.87 | $7,950 | $95,400 |
| California | $45.76 | $7,932 | $95,180 |
| New York | $45.69 | $7,920 | $95,040 |
| Washington | $45.19 | $7,833 | $94,000 |
| Maryland | $44.32 | $7,682 | $92,180 |
| Connecticut | $43.31 | $7,507 | $90,080 |
| Virginia | $43.09 | $7,468 | $89,620 |
| New Jersey | $42.87 | $7,431 | $89,170 |
| Colorado | $42.52 | $7,370 | $88,440 |
| Delaware | $40.97 | $7,103 | $85,230 |
| Oregon | $40.65 | $7,046 | $84,550 |
| Minnesota | $40.37 | $6,998 | $83,970 |
| Rhode Island | $39.54 | $6,854 | $82,250 |
| Illinois | $39.18 | $6,790 | $81,480 |
| Vermont | $38.83 | $6,730 | $80,760 |
| Alaska | $38.66 | $6,701 | $80,410 |
| North Carolina | $38.20 | $6,621 | $79,450 |
| Nevada | $38.11 | $6,605 | $79,260 |
| North Dakota | $38.08 | $6,601 | $79,210 |
| New Hampshire | $37.74 | $6,542 | $78,500 |
| Utah | $37.31 | $6,468 | $77,610 |
| Georgia | $37.30 | $6,464 | $77,570 |
| Hawaii | $37.17 | $6,443 | $77,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $37.16 | $6,441 | $77,290 |
| Kansas | $36.82 | $6,383 | $76,590 |
| Arizona | $36.78 | $6,375 | $76,500 |
| Ohio | $36.65 | $6,353 | $76,230 |
| Michigan | $36.18 | $6,271 | $75,250 |
| Maine | $36.12 | $6,262 | $75,140 |
| New Mexico | $36.13 | $6,262 | $75,140 |
| Wyoming | $36.06 | $6,249 | $74,990 |
| Texas | $36.02 | $6,243 | $74,920 |
| South Carolina | $35.92 | $6,226 | $74,710 |
| Missouri | $35.90 | $6,223 | $74,670 |
| Florida | $35.87 | $6,218 | $74,610 |
| South Dakota | $35.79 | $6,204 | $74,450 |
| Wisconsin | $35.73 | $6,193 | $74,310 |
| West Virginia | $35.60 | $6,170 | $74,040 |
| Iowa | $35.51 | $6,154 | $73,850 |
| Tennessee | $35.38 | $6,133 | $73,590 |
| Kentucky | $35.08 | $6,081 | $72,970 |
| Alabama | $34.90 | $6,049 | $72,590 |
| Indiana | $34.88 | $6,046 | $72,550 |
| Montana | $34.34 | $5,953 | $71,430 |
| Idaho | $33.69 | $5,839 | $70,070 |
| Mississippi | $32.87 | $5,697 | $68,360 |
| Oklahoma | $32.64 | $5,658 | $67,900 |
| Nebraska | $32.21 | $5,584 | $67,010 |
| Louisiana | $31.91 | $5,531 | $66,370 |
| Arkansas | $30.00 | $5,201 | $62,410 |
The states that pay the most
Based on the data above, the top-paying states for this occupation are District of Columbia, Massachusetts, California, New York, Washington. Always compare pay against cost of living — a lower dollar wage in a cheaper state can win.
- District of Columbia — $116,020 a year
- Massachusetts — $95,400 a year
- California — $95,180 a year
- New York — $95,040 a year
- Washington — $94,000 a year
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays HR specialists the most?
The table above ranks every published state and District of Columbia currently leads. Business-heavy metros tend to offer more.
What is the average HR specialist salary?
The U.S. mean HR specialist wage is about $81,990 a year (about $39.42 per hour) in the latest BLS OEWS release with a median near $75,940.
How do generalists and specialized HR roles compare?
Specialized roles such as benefits analytics and recruiting strategy commonly out-earn generalists. Adjust the state average up accordingly.
Related salary guides
Project Management Specialist salary by state · Office Clerk salary by state