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Employee Relations Specialist IV Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Employee Relations Specialist IV in the United States is $114,642 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $130,768
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $106,747 to $123,083
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $99,559
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Employee Relations Specialist IV Salaries

An Employee Relations Specialist IV'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 IV Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Employee Relations Specialist IV'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 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
  • Employee Relations Director (7+ years): $169,490
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
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
Employee Relations Director7+ years$169,490
View as Graph

How Do Employee Relations Specialist IVs 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 IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $126,932.
  • California: $126,450.
  • Massachusetts: $124,765.

Top Paying Cities for Employee Relations Specialist IV

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: $144,598
  • San Francisco: $143,015
  • Oakland: $140,001

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.08% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Case Management (Mentioned in 1.87% Job Postings): Connecting patients with suitable healthcare providers, resources, and services to ensure they receive optimal, cost-effective care.
  • HRIS (Mentioned in 0.78% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.08%
Case Management 1.87%
HRIS 0.78%
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 Employee Relations Specialist IV's salary.

  • Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Employee Engagement: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Continuous Improvement $131,838
15%
Coordination $130,692
14%
Employee Engagement $128,399
12%
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Employee Relations Specialist IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Employee Relations Specialist IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $128,335. While startup companies pay approximate $108,568.

Employee Relations Specialist IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $108,568
Growth Stage 51~500 $114,824
Established 501~5000 $123,930
Enterprise 5000+ $128,335

Employee Relations Specialist IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Employee Relations Specialist IV roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Employee Relations Specialist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Employee Relations Specialist IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Employee Relations Specialist IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$149,035$72.030%
Healthcare$143,302$69.025%
Aerospace & Defense$137,570$66.020%
Energy & Utilities$131,838$63.015%
Transportation$131,838$63.015%

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

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Employee Relations Specialist IV 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 IV with a Bachelor's Degree is between $112,188 and $120,195.

Employee Relations Specialist IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Employee Relations Specialist IV
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.7%
High School 3.4%
Associates 1.7%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 31.0%
Doctorate 12.1%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how an Employee Relations Specialist IV'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
$106,747
Average $114,642/year
$123,083
$8,896
Average $9,554/month
$10,257
$2,053
Average $2,205/week
$2,367
$51
Average $55/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $123,083 $10,257 $2,367 $59
Average $114,642 $9,554 $2,205 $55
25th Percentile $106,747 $8,896 $2,053 $51

Employee Relations Specialist IV Salary Growth & Career Path

Employee Relations Specialist IV

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Advancement

For an Employee Relations Specialist IV, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Employee Relations Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $123,342 - a projected growth of 8% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Employee Relations Specialist IV

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

Common company salaries for Employee Relations Specialist IV

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

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FAQ about Employee Relations Specialist IV

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

An Employee Relations Specialist IV'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 IV earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Employee Relations Specialist IV is $144,598.

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

The highest pay for Employee Relations Specialist IV is $130,768.

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

The lowest pay for Employee Relations Specialist IV is $99,559.

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

Designs and administers human resources policies and procedures that pertain to employee relations. Researches and analyzes data pertaining to human resources. Helps develop programs throughout the organization aimed at increasing employee satisfaction. Identifies and analyzes complex employee relations issues and provides recommendations for resolutions. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience.

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

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Employee Relations Specialist IV roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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