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Employee/Labor Relations Manager Salary in the United States

How much does an Employee/Labor Relations Manager make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for an Employee/Labor Relations Manager in the United States is $169,490 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $81.

However, an Employee/Labor Relations Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $184,965
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $161,290 to $177,590
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $153,824
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View as table View as graph 25% $161,290 10% $153,824 90% $184,965 75% $177,590 $169,490 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Employee/Labor Relations Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $177,590 $14,799 $3,415 $85
Average $169,490 $14,124 $3,259 $81
25th Percentile $161,290 $13,441 $3,102 $78
Check out Employee/Labor Relations Manager Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Employee/Labor Relations Manager Salaries

An Employee/Labor Relations Manager'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 Employee/Labor Relations Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Employee/Labor Relations Manager'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:

  • Employee Relations/Shared Services Representative III (4-7 years): $100,519
  • Employee Relations/Shared Services Representative IV (7+ years): $114,660
  • Staff Relations Manager (7+ years): $123,332
  • Employee/Labor Relations Manager (7+ years): $169,419
  • Vice President of Employee Relations (7+ years): $198,978
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Employee Relations/Shared Services Representative III4-7 years$100,519
Employee Relations/Shared Services Representative IV7+ years$114,660
Staff Relations Manager7+ years$123,332
Employee/Labor Relations Manager7+ years$169,419
Vice President of Employee Relations7+ years$198,978
$100,519 Employee ...
$114,660 Employee ...
$123,332 Staff Rel...
$169,419 Employee/...
$198,978 Vice Pres...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Employee/Labor Relations Managers

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: $213,690
  • San Francisco: $211,590
  • Oakland: $206,890

What Skills Can Increase an Employee/Labor Relations Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.55% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.17% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Public Relations (Mentioned in 0.99% Job Postings): Public relations (PR) is the practice of deliberately managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) and the public. Public relations may include an organization or individual gaining exposure to their audiences using topics of public interest and news items that do not require direct payment. This differentiates it from advertising as a form of marketing communications. Public relations is the idea of creating coverage for clients for free, rather than marketing or advertising. But now, advertising is also a part of greater PR Activities. An example of good public relations would be generating an article featuring a client, rather than paying for the client to be advertised next to the article. The aim of public relations is to inform the public, prospective customers, investors, partners, employees, and other stakeholders and ultimately persuade them to maintain a positive or favorable view about the organization, its leadership, products, or political decisions. Public relations professionals typically work for PR and marketing firms, businesses and companies, government, and public officials as PIOs and nongovernmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations. Jobs central to public relations include account coordinator, account executive, account supervisor, and media relations manager.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.55%
Microsoft Office 2.17%
Public Relations 0.99%
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 Employee/Labor Relations Manager's salary.
  • Resource Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Collective Bargaining: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Resource Management
 $191,524
13%
Collective Bargaining
 $181,354
7%
Consulting
 $179,659
6%
Insight
 $179,659
6%
Coaching
 $179,659
6%
Labor Relations
 $177,965
5%
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How Education impacts an Employee/Labor Relations Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Employee/Labor Relations Managers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Employee/Labor Relations Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $163,011 and $174,005).

Employee/Labor Relations Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Employee/Labor Relations Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.1%
High School 6.1%
Associates 10.2%
Bachelors 42.9%
Masters 20.4%
Doctorate 16.3%
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Employee/Labor Relations Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Employee/Labor Relations Manager'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on March 01, 2026
$161,290
Average $169,490/year
$177,590
$13,441
Average $14,124/month
$14,799
$3,102
Average $3,259/week
$3,415
$78
Average $81/hour
$85
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $177,590 $14,799 $3,415 $85
Average $169,490 $14,124 $3,259 $81
25th Percentile $161,290 $13,441 $3,102 $78

Employee/Labor Relations Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Employee/Labor Relations Manager
Vice President of Employee Relations

For an Employee/Labor Relations Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Vice President of Employee Relations role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $198,980 - a projected growth of 17% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Employee/Labor Relations Manager

Salary Trends for Employee/Labor Relations Manager

Salaries for an Employee/Labor Relations Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $143,339 in 2023 to around $141,094 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Employee/Labor Relations Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Employee/Labor Relations Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$143,339
2024
$143,062
2025
$141,094
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $143,339
2024 $143,062
2025 $141,094
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Employee/Labor Relations Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Employee/Labor Relations Manager

Here are companies hiring for Employee/Labor Relations Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Employee/Labor Relations Manager

1. What does an employee and labor relations manager do?

An Employee/Labor Relations Manager resolves disputes between employees and management, negotiates labor contracts, and coordinates grievance procedures. They provide insights on wages, salaries, and benefits. The salary for this role ranges from $153,390 to $193,990, with a midpoint of $173,190, reflecting the importance of their expertise in maintaining workplace harmony.

2. How much does a McDonald's employee make USA?

The salary for an Employee/Labor Relations Manager ranges from $153,390 to $193,990, with a midpoint of $173,190. This reflects a more specialized role compared to typical positions at McDonald's, where crew members earn about $13.00 per hour, significantly lower than the managerial salary range.

3. What type of manager pays the most?

The highest-paid manager roles include Employee/Labor Relations Manager, with salaries ranging from $153,390 to $193,990, depending on experience and location. Other high-paying positions are Store Manager, Farm Manager, and Marketing Manager, among others. These roles often command competitive salaries due to their responsibilities and impact on organizational success.

4. Which employer has the highest salary?

Companies that typically pay the highest salaries for Employee/Labor Relations Managers often include technology giants such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft, as well as financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs. Salaries in this role range from a minimum of $153,390 to a maximum of $193,990, with a mid-range salary of $173,190.

5. How much does a WFM manager earn in the US?

The salary for an Employee/Labor Relations Manager in the US ranges from a minimum of $153,390 to a maximum of $193,990, with a mid-range salary of $173,190. This reflects a more specialized role compared to a Workforce Manager, whose average salary is significantly lower at $76,417.

6. Is WFM part of HR?

Workforce management (WFM) can be integrated into HR systems, including human resource information systems (HRIS), which manage employee data. The role of an Employee/Labor Relations Manager, who typically earns between $153,390 and $193,990, may involve overseeing WFM processes to enhance employee relations and optimize workforce efficiency.

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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