What is the Average HR Project Manager Salary?
Are you curious about knowing what the HR project manager salary is? Then, you are reading the right post.
The key role of a human resources project manager is to supervise the implementation of HR-related projects within an organization. Their duty is to create, manage, and execute different projects designed to improve the human resources function in a company. HR project managers manage the day-to-day operations of the human resources department, including staffing decisions, employee evaluation, performance reviews, and so on.
On the whole, this role combines a detailed understanding of every aspect of human resources at the management level with the capability of bringing positive changes in an efficient manner. The annual salary of a human resources project manager varies, depending on a number of 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
Many companies offer full-time HR project manager positions; however, some companies may recruit them in part-time positions. Whatever the case may be, human resources project manager jobs differ from each other based on the company and industry. So, it is ideal to look at some other sources to get an idea of how much an HR project manager makes. Here are the four main websites providing information regarding their salaries:
Glassdoor
Glassdoor, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is one of the fastest-growing jobs and recruiting websites. It holds an increasing database of millions of company reviews and ratings, benefits reviews, salary reports, and CEO approval ratings combined with the latest jobs. As per Glassdoor, the national average income for a human resources project manager is $78,651 a year in the United States. The lowest salary an HR manager receives in the US is $50,343 per year.
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 make $90,331 a year on average, or $43.43 an hour in the United States.
On the lower of that spectrum, HR project managers make around $64,000 per year, while the top 10% earn about $125,000. The location has a significant impact on how an HR manager can expect to earn. They make the most in New York, New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
Indeed
Launched in 2004, Indeed is an American employment website used by millions of job seekers. The site works as a great place to help find people reasonable salary estimates based on the several jobs posted on the site. The average salary for an HR project manager in the United States is $77,035 a year. The salary for an HR manager with over a decade of work experience is around $82,826.
The site also shows you 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 empowering 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 per year. 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 various 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. When it comes to 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 $45,950 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 $60,880 per year.
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers plan and direct the managerial operations of a company. Their duty is to supervise the department and contribute to the strategic planning and serve as a link between 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 $113,300 per year.
Vice President of Human Resources
It is the responsibility of the VP of human resources to oversee contracts, develop written policies, and monitor legal compliance with workplace regulations, all while working as a team lead of other HR professionals. The Vice President of Human Resources will have a Master’s degree because of their strategic and financial duties within the organization. Their median salary is $136,056 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 $71,579 per year.
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. The average salary a compensation and benefits manager get is $121,010 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
In most cases, human resources project managers need a Bachelor’s degree in HR or a related field, such as business management, finance, education, or information technology. Courses in different educational paths in areas such as marketing, communications, operations, journalism, psychology, sociology, or legal studies may also be helpful. Some higher-level jobs demand a Master’s degree in human resources, labor relations, or business administration.
Though certification is voluntary, it can demonstrate professional expertise and credibility and may increase advancement opportunities. A number of 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:
- 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
Final Thoughts
All in all, the salary for a human resources project manager depends on your company and industry. But, your project management knowledge, background, and work experience also have a major effect on the salaries. In any case, focus on building your project management experience to negotiate for a competitive salary and keep yourself informed about the industry’s recent news and updates.
