Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Guiding people or projects, setting direction, taking responsibility, and helping others succeed.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Human Resources Manager Human resources managers typically need a combination of a bachelor's degree and work experience. Candidates typically need a combination of
Education
and several years of related work experience to become a human resources manager. Although most positions require a bachelor’s degree, some require a master’s degree. Education Human resources managers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. The degree may be in human resources or another field, such as business, communications, or psychology. Courses in subjects such as conflict management may be helpful. Some jobs may require a master’s degree in human resources, labor relations, or business administration (MBA). Work Experience in a Related Occupation To demonstrate abilities in organizing, directing, and leading others, human resources managers must have related work experience. Some managers start out as human resources specialists or labor relations specialists. Management positions typically require an understanding of human resources programs, such as compensation and benefits plans; human resources software; and federal, state, and local employment laws.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Although certification is voluntary, it shows professional expertise and credibility, and it may enhance job opportunities. Employers may prefer to hire candidates with certification, and some positions may require it. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of human resources managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 16,800 openings for human resources managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Demand for human resources managers is expected to be strong over the projections decade as more of these workers are needed to help meet strategic organizational priorities. These human-resource-related strategic priorities, such as employee engagement, management, and retention, will require human resources managers to further integrate into the broader corporate management structure. Human Resources Managers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Operations specialties managers 9% Human resources managers 6% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Human Resources Managers Do
Human resources managers plan, coordinate, and direct the administrative functions of an organization. They oversee the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new staff; consult with top executives on strategic planning; and serve as a link between an organization’s management and its employees.
Duties
Human resources managers typically do the following:
- Plan and coordinate an organization’s workforce to best use employees’ talents
- Link an organization’s management with its employees
- Plan and oversee employee benefit programs
- Serve as a consultant to advise other managers on human resources issues, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment
- Coordinate and supervise the work of specialists and support staff
- Oversee an organization’s recruitment, interview, selection, and hiring processes
- Handle staffing issues, such as mediating disputes and directing disciplinary procedures
Organizations want to attract, motivate, and keep qualified employees and match them to jobs for which they are well-suited. Human resources managers accomplish this aim by directing the administrative functions of human resources departments. Their work involves overseeing employee relations, securing regulatory compliance, and administering employee-related services such as payroll, training, and benefits. They supervise the department’s specialists and support staff and make sure that tasks are completed accurately and on time.
Human resources managers also consult with top executives regarding strategic planning and talent management. They identify ways to maximize the value of the organization’s employees and ensure that they are used efficiently. For example, they might assess worker productivity and recommend changes to help the organization meet budgetary goals.
Some human resources managers oversee all aspects of an organization’s human resources department, including the compensation and benefits program and the training and development program. In many larger organizations, these programs are directed by specialized managers, such as compensation and benefits managers and training and development managers.
The following are examples of types of human resources managers:
Labor relations directors, also called employee relations managers, oversee employment policies in union and nonunion settings. They negotiate, draft, and administer labor contracts that cover issues such as wages, benefits, and union and management practices. They also handle labor complaints between employees and management, and they coordinate grievance procedures.
Payroll managers supervise an organization’s payroll department. They ensure that all aspects of payroll are processed correctly and on time. They administer payroll procedures, prepare reports for the accounting department, and resolve payroll problems.
Recruiting managers, sometimes called staffing managers, oversee the recruiting and hiring responsibilities of the human resources department. They often supervise a team of recruiters, and some take on recruiting duties for filling high-level positions. They must develop a recruiting strategy that helps them meet the staffing needs of their organization and compete effectively to attract the best employees.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Human resources managers held about 224,900 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of human resources managers were as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 15% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 14 |
| Manufacturing | 9 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 9 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 8 |
Human resources managers work in offices. Some managers, especially those working for organizations that have offices nationwide, travel to visit other branches, attend professional meetings, or recruit employees.
Work Schedules
Most human resources managers work full time during regular business hours. Some human resources managers work more than 40 hours per week.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Human resources managers need strong speaking, writing, and listening skills to give presentations and direct their staff. Decision-making skills. Human resources managers must be able to balance the strengths and weaknesses of different options and decide the best course of action. Interpersonal skills. Human resources managers regularly interact with people, such as to collaborate on teams, and must develop working relationships with their colleagues. Leadership skills. Human resources managers must coordinate work activities and ensure that staff complete the duties and responsibilities of their department. Organizational skills. Human resources managers must be able to prioritize tasks and manage several projects at once.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about human resources managers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.