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Hourly Wage for Human Resources Generalist III Salary in the United States

How much does a Human Resources Generalist III make hourly?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Human Resources Generalist III in the United States is $43, which translates to an annual salary of about $89,748.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $53 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $39 to $48 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $36 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Human Resources Generalist III Salaries

A Human Resources Generalist III'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 Generalist III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Human Resources Generalist III'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 Generalist I (0-2 years): $58,918
  • Human Resources Generalist II (2-4 years): $73,191
  • Human Resources Generalist III (4-7 years): $89,748
  • Human Resources Generalist IV (7+ years): $108,259
  • Human Resources Supervisor (7+ years): $105,448
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Human Resources Generalist I0-2 years$58,918
Human Resources Generalist II2-4 years$73,191
Human Resources Generalist III4-7 years$89,748
Human Resources Generalist IV7+ years$108,259
Human Resources Supervisor7+ years$105,448

Top Paying Cities for Human Resources Generalist IIIs

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: $113,199
  • San Francisco: $111,960
  • Oakland: $109,600

What Skills Can Increase a Human Resources Generalist III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.31% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Employment Law (Mentioned in 3.77% Job Postings): Applying the knowledge of employment law to regulate relationships between employers and employees.
  • Business Administration (Mentioned in 2.02% Job Postings): It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.31%
Employment Law 3.77%
Business Administration 2.02%

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 Generalist III's salary.

  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Talent Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Leadership $95,133
6%
Coaching $94,235
5%
Talent Management $94,235
5%

Human Resources Generalist III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Human Resources Generalist III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $100,297. While startup companies pay approximate $84,841.

Human Resources Generalist III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $84,841
Growth Stage 51~500 $89,728
Established 501~5000 $96,850
Enterprise 5000+ $100,297

Human Resources Generalist III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Human Resources Generalist III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Human Resources Generalist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Human Resources Generalist III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Human Resources Generalist III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$134,622$65.050%
Software & Networking$121,160$58.035%
Biotechnology$116,672$56.030%
Internet$116,672$56.030%
Financial Services$107,698$52.020%

How Education impacts a Human Resources Generalist III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Human Resources Generalist III 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 Human Resources Generalist III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $92,751 and $98,242.

Human Resources Generalist III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Human Resources Generalist III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 10.5%
Associates 6.3%
Bachelors 49.2%
Masters 32.4%
Doctorate 0.7%

Human Resources Generalist III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Human Resources Generalist III'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 September 01, 2026
$81,899
Average $89,748/year
$100,434
$6,825
Average $7,479/month
$8,370
$1,575
Average $1,726/week
$1,931
$39
Average $43/hour
$48
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $100,434 $8,370 $1,931 $48
Average $89,748 $7,479 $1,726 $43
25th Percentile $81,899 $6,825 $1,575 $39

Most common benefits for Human Resources Generalist III

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

Common company salaries for Human Resources Generalist III

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

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FAQ about Human Resources Generalist III

1. What are the responsibilities of Human Resources Generalist III?

Serves as administrator for several critical human resources functions and workforce management, including recruiting, employee/labor relations, health and safety, compensation, benefits, training, diversity, employee engagement, leave and attendance tracking, payroll, and employee records. Facilitates and communicates organizational policies and programs and ensures labor law and regulatory compliance. Provides internal support and partnership to business lines to deliver required human resources. May evaluate, select, and oversee vendors that provide supplemental HR processes and services. Coordinates with HR support staff to process and maintain employment, attendance, and other records. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4 -7 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Human Resources Generalist III

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.

2.)

Employment Law: Applying the knowledge of employment law to regulate relationships between employers and employees.

3.)

Business Administration: It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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