Head of Human Resources Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Head of Human Resources in the United States is $114,615 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $141,761
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,987 to $128,824
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $90,490
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View as table View as graph 25% $101,987 10% $90,490 90% $141,761 75% $128,824 $114,615 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Head of Human Resources Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $128,824 $10,735 $2,477 $62
Average $114,615 $9,551 $2,204 $55
25th Percentile $101,987 $8,499 $1,961 $49
Check out Head of Human Resources Job Openings in the United States
SVP Head of Human Resources

Corporate One Federal Credit Union - Columbus, OH

Head of Human Resources

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Human Resources - Sales Representative

OPOC.us - Columbus, OH

Human Resources Intern - SupplyHouse

SupplyHouse.com - Columbus, OH

Search More Head of Human Resources Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Head of Human Resources Salaries

A Head of 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 Head of Human Resources Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Head of 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): $114,590
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $77,130
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $98,216
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,570
  • Expert (over 8 years): $147,953
Levels Salary
Recruiter... Level Head of Human Resources$114,590
Recruitin... Level Head of Human Resources$77,130
Recruitin... Level Head of Human Resources$98,216
Head of H... Level Head of Human Resources$113,570
Recruitin... Level Head of Human Resources$147,953
$114,590 0 yr
$77,130 < 2 yrs
$98,216 2-4 yrs
$113,570 5-8 yrs
$147,953 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Head of 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: $144,564
  • San Francisco: $142,981
  • Oakland: $139,968

What Skills Can Increase a Head of Human Resources's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.48% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 1.38% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 0.91% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.48%
Accounting 1.38%
Continuous Improvement 0.91%
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 Head of Human Resources's salary.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Restaurant Operation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight
$123,784
8%
Restaurant Operation
$123,784
8%
Consulting
$122,638
7%
Talent Acquisition
$120,346
5%
Accounting
$120,346
5%
Project Management
$120,346
5%
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Head of Human Resources Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Head of Human Resources roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Insurance and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Head of Human Resources positions in Internet or Chemicals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Head of Human Resources as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Head of Human Resources

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$183,384$88.060%
Business Services$171,922$83.050%
Transportation$166,192$80.045%
Healthcare$160,461$77.040%
Energy & Utilities$149,000$72.030%

How Education impacts a Head of Human Resources's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Head of 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 a Head of Human Resources with a Bachelor's Degree is between $122,684 and $130,466).

Head of Human Resources Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Head of Human Resources
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 8.3%
Associates 6.5%
Bachelors 60.6%
Masters 22.6%
Doctorate 0.5%
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Head of Human Resources Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Head of 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Head of Human Resources

Salaries for a Head of Human Resources can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $109,974 in 2023 to around $110,418 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Head of Human Resources salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Head of Human Resources Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$109,974
2024
$110,801
2025
$110,418
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $109,974
2024 $110,801
2025 $110,418
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Head of Human Resources

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

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

Find Your Next Head of Human Resources Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Head of Human Resources job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Corporate One Federal Credit Union

    Columbus, OH

    Corporate One Federal Credit Union | Columbus, OH

    Human Resources InternAre you ready to jump-start your career in Human Resources. Join us this summer as a Human Resources Intern, where you'll gain hands-... more

    5 Days Ago

  • SupplyHouse.com

    Columbus, OH

    SupplyHouse.com | Columbus, OH

    Real people. Real service. At SupplyHouse.com , we value every individual team member and cultivate a community where people come first. Led by our core va... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Mid-Ohio RPC

    Columbus, OH

    Mid-Ohio RPC | Columbus, OH

    MORPC Local Government Summer Internship ProgramThe MORPC Local Government Summer Internship Program provides the opportunity for undergraduate and graduat... more

    5 Days Ago

  • HMSHost

    Columbus, OH

    HMSHost | Columbus, OH

    HMSHost. is seeking a. Human Resources Generalist. to support operations at. John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH). playing a key role in deliver... more

    1 Day Ago

  • Capital University

    Columbus, OH

    Capital University | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Position SummaryThe Director of Human Resources is a strategic leader responsible for guiding and advancing all aspects o... more

    1 Day Ago

  • BrightStar Care of East &amp; NW Columbus

    Columbus, OH

    BrightStar Care of East &amp; NW Columbus | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Talent & HR Coordinator. Pay. $25.00 - $29.00 per hour. Job description. Full-Time | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. We... more

    2 Days Ago

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FAQ about Head of Human Resources

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Head of Human Resources?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Head of Human Resources roles, with salaries approximately 60% 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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