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Human Capital Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Human Capital Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Human Capital Manager in the United States is $123,498 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $142,518
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $108,765 to $133,454
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $95,351
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Human Capital Manager Salaries

A Human Capital 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 Human Capital Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Human Capital 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $111,171
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $108,285
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $126,567
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $158,656
  • Expert (over 8 years): $177,937
Levels Salary
Human Res... Level Human Capital Manager$111,171
Human Res... Level Human Capital Manager$108,285
Human Cap... Level Human Capital Manager$126,567
Associate... Level Human Capital Manager$158,656
Human Res... Level Human Capital Manager$177,937
View as Graph

How Do Human Capital Manager 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 Human Capital Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $136,737.
  • California: $136,218.
  • Massachusetts: $134,403.

Top Paying Cities for Human Capital 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: $155,768
  • San Francisco: $154,063
  • Oakland: $150,816

What Skills Can Increase a Human Capital Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.1% 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 3.15% 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.
  • Benefit Administration (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Benefits administration is the process of assembling and managing the benefits an organization provides to employees.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.1%
Microsoft Office 3.15%
Benefit Administration 1.64%
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 a Human Capital Manager's salary.

  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Change Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Partnering $128,438
4%
Change Management $128,438
4%
Commitment $127,203
3%
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Human Capital Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Human Capital Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 67% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Human Capital Manager positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Human Capital Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Human Capital Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$160,547$77.030%
Financial Services$154,372$74.025%
Internet$148,198$71.020%
Pharmaceuticals$145,728$70.018%
Energy & Utilities$142,023$68.015%

How Education impacts a Human Capital Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Human Capital 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 a Human Capital Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $115,932 and $123,691).

Human Capital Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Human Capital Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 11.0%
Associates 7.8%
Bachelors 49.4%
Masters 29.3%
Doctorate 1.3%
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Human Capital Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Human Capital 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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$108,765
Average $123,498/year
$133,454
$9,064
Average $10,292/month
$11,121
$2,092
Average $2,375/week
$2,566
$52
Average $59/hour
$64
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $133,454 $11,121 $2,566 $64
Average $123,498 $10,292 $2,375 $59
25th Percentile $108,765 $9,064 $2,092 $52

Most common benefits for Human Capital Manager

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

Common company salaries for Human Capital Manager

Here are companies hiring for Human Capital Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Human Capital Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Human Capital Manager?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Human Capital Manager 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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