Human Resources Managers : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Summary

Human resources managers deal with workplace complaints and may referee disputes.

Quick Facts: Human Resources Managers
2010 Median Pay	$99,180 per year $47.68 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	1 to 5 years
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	71,800
Job Outlook, 2010-20	13% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	9,300

What Human Resources Managers Do

Human resources managers plan, direct, and coordinate 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.

Work Environment

Human resources managers are employed throughout the economy. They work in offices, and most work full time. The jobs of some human resources managers require work-related travel.

How to Become a Human Resources Manager

Candidates need a combination of education and experience to become a human resources manager. Although a bachelor’s degree is sufficient for most positions, some jobs require a master’s degree. Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills.

Pay

The median annual wage of human resources managers was $99,180 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of human resources managers is expected to grow 13 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As new companies form and organizations expand their operations, they will need more human resources staff to administer their programs.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of human resources managers with similar occupations.

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What Human Resources Managers Do About this section

Human resources managers often coordinate the work of a team of specialists.

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 by handling questions, administering employee services, and resolving work-related problems
Advise managers on organizational policies, 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, firing employees, and directing disciplinary procedures

Every organization wants to attract, motivate, and keep qualified employees and match them to jobs for which they are well suited. Human resources managers accomplish this by directing the administrative functions of an organization. Their work involves overseeing employee relations, regulatory compliance, and employee-related services such as payroll, training, and benefits. They supervise the department’s specialists and support staff and ensure that tasks are completed accurately and on time.

Human resources managers also consult with top executives on the organization’s strategic planning. They identify ways to maximize the value of the organization’s employees and ensure that they are used as efficiently as possible. For example, they might assess worker productivity and recommend changes to the organization’s structure to help it meet budgetary goals.

Some human resources managers oversee all aspects of an organization’s human resources department, including the compensation and benefits or training and development programs. In many larger organizations, these programs are directed by specialized managers. For more information, see the profiles on compensation and benefits managers and training and development managers.

The following are types of human resources managers:

Labor relations managers, also called employee relations managers, oversee employment policies in union and non-union settings. They draw up, negotiate, and administer labor contracts that cover issues such as grievances, wages, benefits, and union and management practices. They also handle labor complaints between employees and management and coordinate grievance procedures.

Payroll managers supervise the operations of 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 any payroll problems or discrepancies.

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 when trying to fill high-level positions. They must develop a recruiting strategy that helps them meet the staffing needs of their organization and effectively compete for the best employees.

Work Environment About this section

Human resources managers help employees resolve work-related problems.

Human resources managers held about 71,800 jobs in 2010 and were employed throughout the economy.

The following industries employed the most human resources managers in 2010:

Government	14%
Management of companies and enterprises	14
Manufacturing	13
Professional, scientific, and technical services	9
Health care and social assistance	9

Human resources managers work in offices, and most work full time.

Some managers, especially those working for organizations that have offices nationwide, must travel to visit other branches as well as to attend professional meetings or to recruit employees.

How to Become a Human Resources Manager About this section

Human resources managers may work with executives to determine hiring needs.

Candidates need a combination of education and related work experience to become a human resources manager.

Education

Human resources managers usually need a bachelor’s degree in human resources or business administration. Alternatively, as not all undergraduate programs offer a degree in human resources, candidates can get a bachelor’s degree in another field and take courses in human resources subjects, such as labor or industrial relations, organizational development, or industrial psychology. Some positions are also filled by experienced individuals with other backgrounds, including finance, business management, education, and information technology.

Some higher-level jobs require a master’s degree in human resources, labor relations, or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

Work Experience

To demonstrate an ability to organize, manage, and lead others, related work experience is essential for human resources managers. Some positions accept management experience in a variety of fields, but many positions require experience working with human resources programs, such as compensation and benefits plans or with a Human Resources Information System (HRIS), and require solid understanding of federal, state, and local employment laws.

Certification

Although certification is voluntary, it can show professional expertise and credibility and may enhance advancement opportunities. Many employers prefer to hire certified candidates, and some positions may require certification. The Society for Human Resource Management is among many professional associations that offer a variety of certification programs.

Important Qualities

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. Many of their decisions have a significant impact on workers or operations, such as deciding whether to fire an employee.

Interpersonal skills. Human resources managers need strong interpersonal skills because they regularly interact with people. They often collaborate on teams and must develop positive working relationships with their colleagues.

Managerial skills. Human resources managers must be able to direct a staff and oversee the operations of their department. They must coordinate work activities and ensure that workers in the department complete their duties and fulfill their responsibilities.

Organizational skills. Organizational skills are essential for human resources managers. They must be able to manage several projects at once and prioritize tasks.

Speaking skills. Human resources managers rely on speaking skills to give presentations and direct their staff. They must clearly communicate information and instructions to their staff and other employees.

Pay About this section

Human Resources Managers

Median annual wages, May 2010

Human Resources Managers: $99,180
Management Occupations: $91,440
Total, All Occupations: $33,840

The median annual wage of human resources managers was $99,180 in 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,560, and the top 10 percent earned more than $166,400.

Most human resources managers work full time, and some are required to travel to visit other branches, attend professional meetings, or recruit employees.

Job Outlook About this section

Human Resources Managers

Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20

Total, All Occupations: 14%
Human Resources Managers: 13%
Management Occupations: 7%

Employment of human resources managers is expected to grow 13 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Employment growth for human resources managers largely depends on the performance and growth of individual companies. As new companies form and organizations expand their operations, they will need more human resources staff to oversee and administer their programs.

Managers will be needed to ensure that firms adhere to changing, complex employment laws regarding occupational safety and health, equal employment opportunity, healthcare, wages, and retirement plans.

Job growth is expected to be tempered, however, by the use of computerized human resources information systems, which allow companies to handle many administrative processes more productively and with fewer workers.

Job Prospects

Job opportunities are expected to vary, depending on the staffing needs of individual companies. Job opportunities should be best in the professional, scientific, and technical consulting industry as organizations continue to contract with outside consulting firms for some of their human resources functions.

Candidates with certification or a master’s degree—particularly those with a concentration in human resources management or an MBA—should have the best job prospects. Those with a solid background in human resources programs, policies, and employment law should also have better job opportunities.

Employment projections data for human resources managers, 2010-20
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Change, 2010-20		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Human Resources Managers	11-3121	71,800	81,000	13	9,300	[XLS]

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of human resources managers.

Occupation	Job Duties	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2010 MEDIAN PAY
Judges, Mediators, and Hearing Officers	Judges, mediators, and hearing officers apply the law to court cases and oversee the legal process in courts. They also resolve administrative disputes and facilitate negotiations between opposing parties.	See How to Become One	$91,880
Administrative Services Managers	Administrative services managers plan, direct, and coordinate supportive services of an organization. Their specific responsibilities vary by the type of organization and may include keeping records, distributing mail, and planning and maintaining facilities.	High school diploma or equivalent	$77,890
Compensation and Benefits Managers	Compensation managers plan, direct, and coordinate how and how much an organization pays its employees. Benefits managers do the same for retirement plans, health insurance, and other benefits an organization offers its employees.	Bachelor’s degree	$89,270
Medical and Health Services Managers	Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, specialize in managing a specific clinical area or department, or manage a medical practice for a group of physicians.	Bachelor’s degree	$84,270
Top Executives	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and public or private-sector organizations.	See How to Become One	$101,250
Training and Development Managers	Training and development managers plan, direct, and coordinate programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of an organization’s employees. They also oversee a staff of training and development specialists.	Bachelor’s degree	$89,170
Human Resources Specialists	Human resources specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They also may handle human resources work in a variety of other areas, such as employee relations, payroll and benefits, and training.	Bachelor’s degree	$52,690