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SVP of Human Resources Salary in the United States

How much does an SVP of Human Resources make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an SVP of Human Resources in the United States is $229,630 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $110.

However, an SVP of Human Resources's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $285,438
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $209,623 to $258,842
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $191,408
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence SVP of Human Resources Salaries

An SVP of Human Resources's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects SVP of Human Resources Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an SVP of Human Resources's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Associate Human Resources Director (5+ years): $154,486
  • Human Resources Director (5+ years): $173,260
  • VP of Human Resources (5+ years): $197,962
  • SVP of Human Resources (5+ years): $229,630
  • Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) (5+ years): $350,014
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Associate Human Resources Director5+ years$154,486
Human Resources Director5+ years$173,260
VP of Human Resources5+ years$197,962
SVP of Human Resources5+ years$229,630
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)5+ years$350,014
View as Graph

How Do SVP of Human Resources Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract SVP of Human Resources. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $254,246.
  • California: $253,282.
  • Massachusetts: $249,906.

Top Paying Cities for SVP of Human Resources

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $289,632
  • San Francisco: $286,461
  • Oakland: $280,424

What Skills Can Increase an SVP of Human Resources's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 17.44% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • HRIS (Mentioned in 1.87% Job Postings): HRIS is a management system designed specifically to provide managers with information to make HR decisions. Is a system that lets you keep track of all your employees and information about them.
  • Change Management (Mentioned in 1.31% Job Postings): Change management (sometimes abbreviated as CM) is a collective term for all approaches to prepare , support and help individuals, teams, and organizations in making organizational change. The most common change drivers include: technological evolution, process reviews, crisis, and consumer habit changes; pressure from new business entrants, acquisitions, mergers, and organizational restructuring. It includes methods that redirect or redefine the use of resources, business process, budget allocations, or other modes of operation that significantly change a company or organization. Organizational change management (OCM) considers the full organization and what needs to change, while change management may be used solely to refer to how people and teams are affected by such organizational transition. It deals with many different disciplines, from behavioral and social sciences to information technology and business solutions.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 17.44%
HRIS 1.87%
Change Management 1.31%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an SVP of Human Resources's salary.

  • Creativity: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Creativity $248,000
8%
Innovation $243,408
6%
Alignment $241,112
5%
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SVP of Human Resources Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

SVP of Human Resources salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $257,058. While startup companies pay approximate $217,465.

SVP of Human Resources Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $217,465
Growth Stage 51~500 $229,995
Established 501~5000 $248,235
Enterprise 5000+ $257,058

SVP of Human Resources Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For SVP of Human Resources roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, SVP of Human Resources positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view SVP of Human Resources as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an SVP of Human Resources

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$252,593$121.010%
Financial Services$252,593$121.010%
Energy & Utilities$250,297$120.09%
Aerospace & Defense$248,000$119.08%
Internet$248,000$119.08%

How Education impacts an SVP of Human Resources's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many SVP of Human Resources enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an SVP of Human Resources with a Bachelor's Degree is between $265,105 and $288,756.

SVP of Human Resources Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for SVP of Human Resources
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 3.2%
Associates 2.6%
Bachelors 39.8%
Masters 44.8%
Doctorate 8.8%
View as Graph

SVP of Human Resources Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an SVP of Human Resources's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$209,623
Average $229,630/year
$258,842
$17,469
Average $19,136/month
$21,570
$4,031
Average $4,416/week
$4,978
$101
Average $110/hour
$124
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $258,842 $21,570 $4,978 $124
Average $229,630 $19,136 $4,416 $110
25th Percentile $209,623 $17,469 $4,031 $101

SVP of Human Resources Salary Growth & Career Path

SVP of Human Resources

Next Role

For an SVP of Human Resources, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $350,014 - a projected growth of 52% over your current level.

Most common benefits for SVP of Human Resources

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for SVP of Human Resources

Here are companies hiring for SVP of Human Resources and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about SVP of Human Resources

1. Where can an SVP of Human Resources earn the most?

An SVP of Human Resources's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an SVP of Human Resources earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an SVP of Human Resources is $289,632.

2. What is the highest pay for SVP of Human Resources?

The highest pay for SVP of Human Resources is $285,438.

3. What is the lowest pay for SVP of Human Resources?

The lowest pay for SVP of Human Resources is $191,408.

4. What are the responsibilities of SVP of Human Resources?

Plans and directs all aspects of an organization's human resources policies, objectives, and initiatives. Implements an end-to-end human resources function to deliver talent acquisition, training, compensation, benefits, labor relations, and employee support services. Partners with leadership across the organization to provide human resources programs aligned with the organization's operational objectives, mission, and values. Builds and develops the teams and technology resources to facilitate regulatory compliance, recordkeeping, transaction processing, and analysis of workforce metrics. Identifies and explores trends in human resources to enhance the employee experience, meet evolving organizational needs and create innovative programs. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to top management. Manages a business unit, division, or corporate function with major organizational impact. Establishes/implements overall direction and strategic initiatives for the given major function or line of business. Typically requires 10+ years of progressive leadership experience. Has extensive knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for SVP of Human Resources?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for SVP of Human Resources roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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