Area Director Human Resources Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Area Director Human Resources in the United States is $174,586 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $84.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $209,322
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $159,225 to $192,768
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $145,240
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View as table View as graph 25% $159,225 10% $145,240 90% $209,322 75% $192,768 $174,586 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Area Director Human Resources Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $192,768 $16,064 $3,707 $93
Average $174,586 $14,549 $3,357 $84
25th Percentile $159,225 $13,269 $3,062 $77
Check out Area Director Human Resources Job Openings in the United States
Senior Human Resources (HR) Director with Security Clearance

Northrop Grumman - EL SEGUNDO, CA

Director 1 - Human Resources(HR) with Security Clearance

Northrop Grumman - EL SEGUNDO, CA

Senior Human Resources (HR) Director with Security Clearance

Northrop Grumman - REDONDO BEACH, CA

Director 1 - Human Resources(HR) with Security Clearance

Northrop Grumman - PALMDALE, CA

Search More Area Director Human Resources Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Area Director Human Resources Salaries

An Area Director Human Resources'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 Area Director Human Resources Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Area Director Human Resources'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): $123,232
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $154,478
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $173,249
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $198,071
  • Expert (over 8 years): $229,705
Levels Salary
Human Res... Level Area Director Human Resources$123,232
Associate... Level Area Director Human Resources$154,478
Area Dire... Level Area Director Human Resources$173,249
VP of Hum... Level Area Director Human Resources$198,071
SVP of Hu... Level Area Director Human Resources$229,705
$123,232 0 yr
$154,478 < 2 yrs
$173,249 2-4 yrs
$198,071 5-8 yrs
$229,705 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Area Director Human Resources 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 Area Director Human Resources. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $193,302.
  • California: $192,568.
  • Massachusetts: $190,002.

Top Paying Cities for Area Director Human Resources

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: $220,205
  • San Francisco: $218,040
  • Oakland: $213,204

What Skills Can Increase an Area Director Human Resources'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 an Area Director Human Resources'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
$185,061
6%
Alignment
$183,315
5%
Change Management
$183,315
5%
Consulting
$181,569
4%
Coaching
$181,569
4%
Talent Management
$181,569
4%
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How Education impacts an Area Director Human Resources's Salary?

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

Area Director Human Resources Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Area Director Human Resources
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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Area Director Human Resources Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Area Director Human Resources'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Area Director Human Resources

Salaries for an Area Director Human Resources can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $161,898 in 2023 to around $158,644 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Area Director Human Resources salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Area Director Human Resources Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$161,898
2024
$160,525
2025
$158,644
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $161,898
2024 $160,525
2025 $158,644
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Area Director Human Resources

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

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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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