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Employee Relations Specialist I Salary in the United States

How much does an Employee Relations Specialist I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Employee Relations Specialist I in the United States is $64,324 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,874
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,666 to $71,940
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,604
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Employee Relations Specialist I Salaries

An Employee Relations Specialist I'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 Relations Specialist I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Employee Relations Specialist I'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 Specialist I (0-2 years): $64,324
  • Employee Relations Specialist II (2-4 years): $82,972
  • Employee Relations Specialist III (4-7 years): $100,556
  • Employee Relations Specialist IV (7+ years): $114,642
  • Employee Relations Manager (7+ years): $123,342
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Employee Relations Specialist I0-2 years$64,324
Employee Relations Specialist II2-4 years$82,972
Employee Relations Specialist III4-7 years$100,556
Employee Relations Specialist IV7+ years$114,642
Employee Relations Manager7+ years$123,342
View as Graph

How Do Employee Relations Specialist Is 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 Employee Relations Specialist Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $71,220.
  • California: $70,949.
  • Massachusetts: $70,004.

Top Paying Cities for Employee Relations Specialist I

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: $81,132
  • San Francisco: $80,244
  • Oakland: $78,552

What Skills Can Increase an Employee Relations Specialist I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 3.78% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 2.38% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
  • Employee Engagement (Mentioned in 1.16% Job Postings): Employee engagement is a fundamental concept in the effort to understand and describe, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the nature of the relationship between an organization and its employees. An "engaged employee" is defined as one who is fully absorbed by and enthusiastic about their work and so takes positive action to further the organization's reputation and interests. An engaged employee has a positive attitude towards the organization and its values. In contrast, a disengaged employee may range from someone doing the bare minimum at work (aka 'coasting'), up to an employee who is actively damaging the company's work output and reputation. An organization with "high" employee engagement might therefore be expected to outperform those with "low" employee engagement. Employee engagement first appeared as a concept in management theory in the 1990s, becoming widespread in management practice in the 2000s, but it remains contested. It stands in an unspecified relationship to earlier constructs such as morale and job satisfaction. Despite academic critiques, employee engagement practices are well established in the management of human resources and of internal communications.
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 3.78%
Food Safety 2.38%
Employee Engagement 1.16%
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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 Relations Specialist I's salary.

  • Resource Management: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Microsoft Outlook: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Resource Management $75,259
17%
Insight $73,329
14%
Microsoft Outlook $72,686
13%
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Employee Relations Specialist I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Employee Relations Specialist I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $72,007. While startup companies pay approximate $60,916.

Employee Relations Specialist I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $60,916
Growth Stage 51~500 $64,426
Established 501~5000 $69,536
Enterprise 5000+ $72,007

Employee Relations Specialist I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Employee Relations Specialist I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Employee Relations Specialist positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Employee Relations Specialist I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Employee Relations Specialist I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$80,405$39.025%
Internet$77,189$37.020%
Software & Networking$77,189$37.020%
Aerospace & Defense$73,973$36.015%
Energy & Utilities$70,756$34.010%

How Education impacts an Employee Relations Specialist I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Employee Relations Specialist I 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 Employee Relations Specialist I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $62,705 and $67,483.

Employee Relations Specialist I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Employee Relations Specialist I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 8.4%
Associates 5.6%
Bachelors 52.4%
Masters 31.5%
Doctorate 0.7%
View as Graph

Employee Relations Specialist I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Employee Relations Specialist I'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
$57,666
Average $64,324/year
$71,940
$4,806
Average $5,360/month
$5,995
$1,109
Average $1,237/week
$1,383
$28
Average $31/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,940 $5,995 $1,383 $35
Average $64,324 $5,360 $1,237 $31
25th Percentile $57,666 $4,806 $1,109 $28

Employee Relations Specialist I Salary Growth & Career Path

Employee Relations Specialist I

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Advancement

For an Employee Relations Specialist I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Employee Relations Specialist II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $82,972 - a projected growth of 29% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Employee Relations Specialist I

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

Common company salaries for Employee Relations Specialist I

Here are companies hiring for Employee Relations Specialist I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Employee Relations Specialist I

1. Where can an Employee Relations Specialist I earn the most?

An Employee Relations Specialist I'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 Employee Relations Specialist I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Employee Relations Specialist I is $81,132.

2. What is the highest pay for Employee Relations Specialist I?

The highest pay for Employee Relations Specialist I is $78,874.

3. What is the lowest pay for Employee Relations Specialist I?

The lowest pay for Employee Relations Specialist I is $51,604.

4. What are the responsibilities of Employee Relations Specialist I?

Administers human resources policies and procedures that pertain to employee relations. Researches and analyzes data pertaining to human resources. Provides management with reports on any employee relations issues and possible resolutions. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Employee Relations Specialist I?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Employee Relations Specialist I roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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