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.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
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 Specialist Human resources specialists must usually have a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a related field. Human resources specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation.
Education
Human resources specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in human resources, business, communications, or a related field. By working in an internship during college, students gain relevant experience that may be helpful in competing for human resources specialist jobs. Internships in human resources departments may help prospective specialists to increase their understanding of the occupation and to network in an industry. Other Experience Some positions require human resources specialists to have relevant work experience. Candidates may gain experience as human resources assistants (information clerks), customer service representatives, or in related occupations. Employers also may prefer to hire candidates who have experience in areas such as personnel recruitment, staff
Training
and development, employee relations, and compensation and benefits. Candidates sometimes get this experience while in college, either through courses or by volunteering.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Professional associations that specialize in human resources offer courses to enhance the skills of their members, and some offer certification programs. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. Certification usually requires that candidates pass an exam that covers human resources knowledge and asks candidates to apply their knowledge to different situations. Candidates for certification also typically need to meet minimum education and experience requirements. Although certification is usually voluntary, some employers prefer or require it. Human resources generalists, in particular, may benefit from certification because it shows knowledge and professional competence across all human resources areas. Advancement Human resources specialists who have a thorough knowledge of their organization and its personnel regulations may advance to become human resources managers. Specialists may increase their chance of advancement by taking on new responsibilities or completing voluntary certification programs.
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 specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 73,700 openings for human resources specialists 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 specialists is expected to be strong over the projections decade as more of these workers are needed to help meet strategic organizational priorities. The HR-to-employee ratio is expected to be stable or increasing. Firms that specialize in human resources services are likely to experience stronger growth than in-house human resources, as some companies increasingly contract out those services. Human Resources Specialists Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Human resources specialists 6% Business operations specialists 6% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Human Resources Specialists Do
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, and interview job applicants and place newly hired workers in jobs. They also may handle compensation and benefits, training, and employee relations.
Duties
Human resources specialists typically do the following:
- Consult with employers to identify hiring needs
- Interview job applicants about their relevant experience, education, and skills
- Check applicants' references and backgrounds
- Inform applicants about job details, such as duties, benefits, and working conditions
- Hire or refer qualified applicants
- Run or help with new employee orientation
- Keep employment records and process paperwork
Human resources specialists often are trained in tasks for all disciplines of a human resources department. In addition to recruiting applicants and placing workers, human resources specialists help guide employees through human resources procedures and answer questions about an organization’s policies. They sometimes administer benefits, process payroll, and handle associated questions or problems. Some specialists focus more on strategic planning and hiring than on administrative duties. They also ensure that all human resources functions comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
The following are examples of types of human resources specialists:
Human resources generalists handle all aspects of human resources work. Their duties include recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, and employee relations, as well as administering human resources policies, procedures, and programs.
Recruitment specialists, sometimes known as recruiters or “talent acquisition specialists,” find, screen, and interview applicants for job openings in an organization. They search for applicants by posting listings, attending job fairs, and visiting college campuses. They also may test applicants, contact references, and extend job offers.
Some specialists focus on a certain area of human resources, such as retirement or training. For information about those who focus on an organization’s wage and nonwage programs for workers, see the profile on compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists. For information about those who plan and administer programs that improve workers’ skills and knowledge, see the profile on training and development specialists.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Human resources specialists held about 939,700 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of human resources specialists were as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13% |
| Employment services | 13 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 11 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 10 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
Some organizations contract recruitment and placement work to outside firms, such as those in the employment services industry or the professional, scientific, and technical industry.
Work Schedules
Human resources specialists generally work in office settings. Some, particularly recruitment specialists, travel to attend job fairs, visit college campuses, and meet with applicants.
Most specialists work full time during regular business hours. Some 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. Listening and speaking skills are essential for human resources specialists. They must convey information effectively and respond to questions and concerns from employers, job applicants, and employees. Decision-making skills. Human resources specialists must use sound judgment when reviewing applicants’ qualifications or when working to resolve disputes. Detail oriented. Specialists must pay attention to detail when evaluating applicants’ qualifications, doing background checks, maintaining records of an employee grievance, and ensuring that a workplace complies with labor standards. Interpersonal skills. Specialists continually interact with others and must be able to converse and connect with people from varied backgrounds.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about human resources specialists 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.