What is the Average HR Operations Specialist Salary?
According to Glassdoor, the average HR operations specialist’s salary is $81,101 annually.
Researching the salary range of a role is one of the most critical tasks during a job hunt, and it is no different in the case of HR operations specialists.
This article dives into the average salary statistics associated with the HR operations specialist role, how it varies depending on location, industry, and company, and what roles you can progress to afterward.
Average Salary for HR Operations Specialist
The average earnings of an HR operations specialist differ between organizations and locations. For example, the salary at tech companies can vary from that at pharmaceutical corporations. Since there can be considerable differences in the numbers, it is important to do proper market research. Thankfully, many helpful salary statistics providers can help you look into the average pay range for the HR operations specialist role.
The average salaries for an HR operations specialist role are shown below and divided according to different salary-reporting websites.
Glassdoor
The popular salary statistics provider Glassdoor reported an average yearly salary of $81,101 for the HR operations specialist role. It calculates this final figure by adding up an average base salary of $44,186 and an average additional cash compensation of $18,914. Additionally, the website indicates that the average pay lies between a most likely salary range of $64,000 to $117,000.
PayScale
Another popular salary-reporting platform, PayScale, reported a yearly salary range of $41,000 to $83,000 for the HR operations specialist role. According to the website, the role receives an average base pay of $51,373 annually, and HR operations specialists can receive additional compensation as bonuses (up to $7,000) and profit-sharing (up to $1,000).
Comparably
The salary-reporting website Comparably reported an average yearly salary of $76,166 for the HR operations specialist role. It shows the salary range for the position to be between $34,797 and $151,012. Additionally, it reports that the top 75% of HR operations specialists earn the highest amount within this possible salary range.
All three platforms report significant differences in the salary numbers for the HR operations specialist position. The average annual salary reported by the three platforms is $79,510.
Average HR Specialist Salary vs. Average HR Operation Specialist Salary
Apart from having similar-sounding names, the HR specialist and HR operations specialist roles have very similar average annual salaries. According to recent HR specialist salaries available on Glassdoor, the common HR specialist salary is $64,483 annually, almost the same as the yearly average HR operations specialist salary of $63,101.
Factors affecting the salary of HR operations specialists also affect HR specialist salaries. Additionally, the salary ranges of HR specialists are similar to those of HR operations specialists.
Both roles have significant overlap of responsibilities. However, while the HR specialist focuses specifically on HR functions, the HR operations specialist is well-versed in departmental workflows. Therefore, it is understandable that both HR professionals have similar average total compensation. However, positions with the job title HR specialist are much more common.
Career Outlook for HR Operations Specialists
The HR operations specialist role is a senior role within a human resources team. Therefore, organizations expect the right HR professional to have an adequate understanding and knowledge of the field. Once you become an HR operations specialist and gain experience, you can progress to more senior human resources positions.
Alternatively, an HR operations specialist, such as a people operations specialist, can perform similar roles. From there, the professional can become a people vice president at an organization.
The average salaries for more senior positions on the HR operations specialist career path are given below:
Senior HR Specialist
A senior HR specialist handles many of the responsibilities of a regular HR specialist or HR operations specialist. However, their seniority comes from possessing more years of experience. Additionally, a senior HR specialist collaborates directly with the HR manager to oversee the implementation of key HR functions. The average senior HR specialist salary is $86,806 annually, and as per Glassdoor, the role requires an average of 5-7 years of experience.
HR Director
The HR director is one of the primary strategic decision-makers of a human resources department. They are directly answerable for the department’s efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, they must focus on crafting an organizational culture that directly aligns with the business goals and benefits employees. The average annual salary for the HR director role is $116,182.
Senior Director of HR
The senior HR director shares many of the same responsibilities as an HR director. However, they have more years of experience and have previously held the HR director role. Therefore, they contribute more to the organization’s strategic plans. The average annual salary of the senior HR director role is $198,025.
Human Resources Vice President
The VP of HR is an executive-level position within an organization that leads the strategic vision of its human resources and culture. They also have a say in the HR department’s more significant business decisions and report the organization’s cultural development directly to higher-level executives. The average annual salary for a human resources vice president is $169,260.
HR Operations Specialist Salary Across Different Locations
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for the HR operations specialist role across major cities within the USA is given below.
U.S. West Coast
- Portland: $58,354
U.S. Midwest/Rocky Mountains
- Chicago: $59,831
U.S. East Coast
- New York: $64,109
U.S. South
- Atlanta: $58,447
- Dallas: $58,478
Education Level for HR Operations Specialist Role
An HR operations specialist should possess at least a Bachelor’s degree in human resources management or business administration. In addition, acquiring an MBA and specializing in a particular aspect of administration strengthens one’s resume.
Apart from educational qualifications, the individual should have extensive professional experience since the HR operations specialist has a senior role in the human resources team. You can also pursue dedicated HR certifications since they help solidify your competence as a candidate.
Mentioning the certification in your resume also exhibits a strong desire to gain more knowledge and become a better HR professional.
Given below are some leading certifications that you can opt for and increase your chances of attaining a great HR operations specialist position:
- HR University: You can find excellent HR management certifications that give you the knowledge you need to become a skillful HR professional
- eCornell: The e-learning platform of Cornell University provides a top-quality certification in Human Resources management.
- SHRM: The industry-leading human resources certification organization offers ‘Certified Professional’ and ‘Senior Certified Professional’ certificates based on your professional experience.
With the right certifications attached to your name, you can open the doors to many exciting new opportunities. Taking any of the above options increases the chances of achieving an HR operations specialist position and progressing in your career.
HR Operations Specialist Salary Across Top Companies
As per Glassdoor, the annual average HR operations specialist salary across some top organizations are given below.
- Nestlé: $69,000
- Accenture: $50,000
- Cognex: $55,000
- Lenovo: $70,000
- Meta: $118,000
Conclusion
An organization can confidently plan to establish a dynamic and inclusive culture with an HR operations specialist on its human resources team. For example, the specialist can work with the HR coordinator and guide them to help improve the employee experience.
As an HR operations specialist, the individual must confidently take the initiative for the human resources team. They must collaborate with other HR professionals, regardless of their seniority level. The HR operations specialist job description clarifies that the role has to cooperate with roles like an HR business partner or an HR generalist.
If you are new to Human Resources and are looking to break into an HR operations specialist role, we recommend taking our HR Certification Courses, where you will learn how to build your skillset in human resources, build your human resources network, craft an excellent HR resume, and create a successful job search strategy.
