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Human Resources Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Human Resources Director make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Human Resources Director in the United States is $173,210 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $83.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $207,361
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $157,754 to $191,086
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $143,682
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View as table View as graph 25% $157,754 10% $143,682 90% $207,361 75% $191,086 $173,210 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Human Resources Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $191,086 $15,924 $3,675 $92
Average $173,210 $14,434 $3,331 $83
25th Percentile $157,754 $13,146 $3,034 $76
Check out Human Resources Director Job Openings in the United States
Director of Human Resources

Kappa Kappa Gamma - Dublin, OH

Human Resources Manager

Novus Foods - Delphos, OH

Human Resources Generalist

LHH - Lake County, OH

Human Resources Business Partner

Alliance Industries, Inc. - Marietta, OH

Search More Human Resources Director Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Human Resources Director Salaries

A Human Resources Director'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 Human Resources Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Human Resources Director'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:

  • Human Resources Manager (5+ years): $123,204
  • Associate Human Resources Director (5+ years): $154,442
  • Human Resources Director (5+ years): $173,210
  • VP of Human Resources (5+ years): $197,958
  • SVP of Human Resources (5+ years): $229,600
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Human Resources Manager5+ years$123,204
Associate Human Resources Director5+ years$154,442
Human Resources Director5+ years$173,210
VP of Human Resources5+ years$197,958
SVP of Human Resources5+ years$229,600
$123,204 Human Res...
$154,442 Associate...
$173,210 Human Res...
$197,958 VP of Hum...
$229,600 SVP of Hu...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Human Resources Directors

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: $218,470
  • San Francisco: $216,078
  • Oakland: $211,524

What Skills Can Increase a Human Resources Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 14.86% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Onboarding (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): Onboarding, also known as organizational socialization, is management jargon first created in the 1970's that refers to the mechanism through which new employees acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviors in order to become effective organizational members and insiders. It is the process of integrating a new employee into the organization and its culture. Tactics used in this process include formal meetings, lectures, videos, printed materials, or computer-based orientations to introduce newcomers to their new jobs and organizations. Research has demonstrated that these socialization techniques lead to positive outcomes for new employees such as higher job satisfaction, better job performance, greater organizational commitment, and reduction in occupational stress and intent to quit.. These outcomes are particularly important to an organization looking to retain a competitive advantage in an increasingly mobile and globalized workforce. In the United States, for example, up to 25% of workers are organizational newcomers engaged in an onboarding process. The term induction is used instead in regions such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and parts of Europe. This is known in some parts of the world as training.
  • Labor Relations (Mentioned in 1.17% Job Postings): Is the term used to define the process between employers and employees, management and unions in order to make decisions in organizations. The decisions taken refer to wages, working conditions, hours of work, and safety at work, security and grievances.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 14.86%
Onboarding 2.11%
Labor Relations 1.17%
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 a Human Resources Director's salary.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Change Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight
$183,603
6%
Alignment
$181,871
5%
Change Management
$181,871
5%
Consulting
$180,138
4%
Coaching
$180,138
4%
Talent Management
$180,138
4%
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How Education impacts a Human Resources Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Human Resources Directors 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 a Human Resources Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $176,586 and $188,502).

Human Resources Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Human Resources Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.2%
High School 7.1%
Associates 5.1%
Bachelors 45.4%
Masters 37.2%
Doctorate 3.9%
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Human Resources Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Human Resources Director'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 May 01, 2026

Human Resources Director Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Human Resources Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Human Resources role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $197,958 - a projected growth of 14% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Human Resources Director

Salaries for a Human Resources Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $161,800 in 2023 to around $158,549 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Human Resources Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Human Resources Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$161,800
2024
$160,429
2025
$158,549
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $161,800
2024 $160,429
2025 $158,549
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Human Resources Director

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Human Resources Director

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

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FAQ about Human Resources Director

1. Where can a Human Resources Director earn the most?

A Human Resources Director'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, a Human Resources Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Human Resources Director is $218,470.

2. What is the highest pay for Human Resources Director?

The highest pay for Human Resources Director is $207,361.

3. What is the lowest pay for Human Resources Director?

The lowest pay for Human Resources Director is $143,682.

4. What are the responsibilities of Human Resources Director?

Plans and oversees human resources functional operations, including talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, training, employee relations, safety, and compliance. Administers human resources programs and policies to reflect the organization's mission and values, support company goals, achieve objectives, and positively engage the workforce. Maintains broad and current subject matter knowledge and expertise in federal and state employment laws to advise leadership with solutions for human resources issues and evolving organizational needs. Implements an HRIS or other system to facilitate processes and provide data and reporting on HR activity. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to top management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

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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