What is the Average HR Project Manager Salary?
The key role of a human resources project manager is to supervise the implementation of HR-related projects within an organization. They must create, manage, and execute different projects designed to improve the human resources function in a company.
The annual salary of a human resources project manager varies on several factors, such as company, work experience, location, gender, and so on. In this post, we cover the range of salary for an HR manager in detail:
Average HR Project Manager Salary
Here are the four leading websites providing information regarding their salaries:
Glassdoor
Glassdoor, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is one of the fastest-growing job and recruiting websites. Its database includes millions of company reviews and ratings, benefits reviews, salary reports, and CEO approval ratings combined with the latest jobs. According to Glassdoor, the national average income for a human resources project manager is $112,213 a year in the United States.
Zippia
Zippia is a famous website that provides online recruitment services to help job seekers find job opportunities. The site uses state-of-the-art machine-learning techniques to obtain data on countless real-life careers. According to Zippia, a human resource project manager makes an average of $90,331 a year, or $43.43 an hour, in the United States.
Indeed
The average salary for an HR project manager in the United States is $82,861 a year.
The site also shows what cities offer the most salaries to HR project managers. The highest-paying cities include Charlotte, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and Austin. In addition, the site displays the most common benefits companies offer to HR project managers. Some of them include health insurance, referral programs, and 401k matching.
PayScale
PayScale is an American website that empowers people and employers with transparent and validated salary data, services, and easy-to-use software to get paid right. In addition to helping people find remote work-from-home and flexible jobs, PayScale also offers cost-of-living estimates, gender-based pay estimates, and other salary-related information. According to PayScale, the average salary for HR project managers in the United States is $71,291 annually. The bonus for an HR project manager ranges from $1,000-$7,000 each year.
Career Outlook for an HR Project Manager
After gaining considerable professional experience, a human resources project manager moves on to many important positions. The compensation for senior roles depends on location, industry, duties, and other factors in the job description. A well-versed HR project manager can advance to more senior positions based on their experience level.
Here is how your career as a human resources project manager can progress or how you can get a specialist role dedicated to functions such as recruiting, training, or benefits:
Human Resources Coordinator
The HR coordinator is an entry-level job for human resources professionals. This position focuses on the managerial side of human resources, posting job offers, reviewing resumes for baseline qualifications, and going through employee paperwork. Regarding education, an HR coordinator has an associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in human resources. For this position, the candidate may need additional education, certifications, or work experience to complete advancement opportunities. The median salary of an HR coordinator is $62,443 per year.
Human Resources Specialist
An HR specialist holds training in almost every facet of human resources and performs tasks throughout all areas of the department, right from recruitment to onboarding and benefits to compensation. In most cases, a Bachelor’s degree is the entry-level education for a human resources specialist. The average salary a human resources specialist receives is $63,933 per year.
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers plan and direct the managerial operations of a company. They must supervise the department, contribute to the strategic planning, and link a firm’s executive management and its employees. To become an HR manager, an individual must have a Bachelor’s degree and almost five years of work experience. Some human resources managers also have a Master’s degree and receive an average salary of $86,3610 per year.
Vice President of Human Resources
The VP of human resources is responsible for overseeing contracts, developing written policies, and monitoring legal compliance with workplace regulations, all while working as a team leader of other HR professionals. Because of their strategic and financial duties within the organization, the VP of human resources will have a master’s degree. Their median salary is $196,663 per year.
Senior Human Resources Recruiter
Senior human resources recruiter specializes in finding, interviewing, and hiring new talent. Their responsibility is to create a strategic approach to attracting the right prospective employees at compensation levels that fit within budget parameters. Large companies prefer senior human resources recruiters with a Master’s degree and offer around $128,133 annually.
Compensation and Benefits Manager
Compensation and benefits manager plan, create, and oversee programs to compensate employees, from salaries and bonuses to retirement, healthcare, and life insurance. In most cases, they need a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, with a preference for specialized degrees in human resources. A compensation and benefits manager’s average salary is $117,897 per year.
Top Paying Cities for HR Project Managers
As per Zippia, the cities with the highest salaries for HR project managers, categorized by location in the United States, are mentioned below:
US South
Average salaries for HR project managers in the US South:
- Austin, Texas: $86,735
- Atlanta, Georgia: $83,592
US West Coast
Average salaries for HR project managers in the US West:
- San Francisco, California: $114,471
- Washington, District of Columbia: $100,608
US Midwest
Average salaries for HR project managers in the US Midwest:
- Chicago, Illinois: $98,989
US Northeast
Average salaries for HR project managers in the US Northeast:
- Jersey City, New Jersey: $108,343
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: $108,049
- Boston, Massachusets: $105,963
- New York, New York: $105,246
Education Level for HR Project Manager Position
Firms prefer hiring certified candidates, and some positions may need certification. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) are among many professional associations that offer different certification programs. Some prominent certifications are mentioned below:
- HR University HR Manager Course – Perfect course for people looking to break into the HR management position.
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR) – The PHR shows your expertise in the operational and technical aspects of HR management, which include US laws and regulations.
- SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) – This professional certification proves you get the behavioral competencies important to apply your human resources knowledge in the modern work environment to support organizational objectives.
- Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) – This certification shows your expertise in multinational HR responsibilities, including the development of HR policies and initiatives that support global progress.
HR Project Manager Salary Across Leading Firms
According to Zippia, here is what the annual median HR project manager salary looks like in some of the biggest companies across different industries:
- Citi: $150,688
- Cisco: $117,439
- Dell: $110,306
- American Express: $103,142
- AT&T: $101,406
FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the salary of an HR Project Manager.
What factors influence the salary of an HR Project Manager?
The salary of an HR Project Manager can vary based on several factors. These include the complexity of the HR programs being managed, the size of the organization, and the number of project team members involved in different initiatives. A review of your qualifications, experience level, and the geographic location of your job can also significantly impact salary expectations.
How does managing HR programs affect an HR Project Manager’s salary?
Managing complex HR programs often requires a high level of expertise and responsibility, which can increase the salary of an HR Project Manager. Successfully overseeing HR programs that involve multiple stakeholders, compliance considerations, and employee engagement initiatives can position you for higher compensation.
How do project team members impact the salary of an HR Project Manager?
The number of project team members you are responsible for can also influence your salary. HR Project Managers who oversee large teams may have higher compensation due to the increased complexity in managing diverse roles, ensuring team collaboration, and meeting project milestones.
How often should an HR Project Manager’s salary be reviewed?
Regular reviews are essential to ensure that your salary stays competitive within the market. Most companies conduct annual or biannual salary reviews, which consider performance evaluations, the scope of your HR programs, and changes in the industry or job market.
