The Hierarchy of HR Job Titles (With Average Salary)
What does an HR department do?
An HR department manages the relationship between an organization and its employees. Its responsibilities may include:
- Recruiting, interviewing and onboarding employees
- Managing payroll, compensation and benefits
- Maintaining employee records
- Creating workplace policies
- Handling employee relations and conflicts
- Organizing training and professional development
- Supporting performance reviews
- Ensuring compliance with labor and employment laws
- Planning future staffing needs
- Building employee engagement and retention programs
Larger organizations usually divide these functions among specialists. Smaller employers may ask one HR professional to manage several areas.
The main levels in the HR job hierarchy
Although titles differ between employers, most HR careers fit into five levels:
- Entry-level and administrative positions
- Specialist and mid-level positions
- HR management positions
- Director and executive positions
- Specialized HR career paths
A professional does not always need to move through every level. For example, a recruiter may become a recruiting manager, while an HR analyst may move into compensation, workforce planning or people analytics.
Entry-level HR job titles
Entry-level employees perform administrative work and help more experienced HR professionals. These roles are suitable for recent graduates and people moving into HR from customer service, office administration or operations.
HR assistant
Average salary: About $18.60 per hour
HR assistants enter employee information, prepare documents, schedule interviews and respond to basic questions. They may also help with payroll, benefits enrollment and new-hire orientation.
This role provides broad exposure to HR processes and can lead to an HR coordinator, specialist or generalist position.
HR administrator
Average salary: About $20.96 per hour
An HR administrator maintains personnel files, employment contracts, leave records and internal databases. Accuracy and confidentiality are especially important because the role involves sensitive employee information.
Staffing coordinator
Average salary: About $47,207 per year
Staffing coordinators support recruitment and workforce scheduling. They may post job advertisements, screen applications, schedule interviews and prepare onboarding materials.
Companies with shift-based operations may also ask staffing coordinators to manage schedules and fill short-notice vacancies.
HR associate
Average salary: About $19.40 per hour
An HR associate helps employees understand company policies, payroll procedures and benefit options. Associates may also process applications, update employee records and support internal HR projects.
HR representative
Average salary: About $20.84 per hour
HR representatives are often a first point of contact for employees. They answer questions, explain workplace policies and direct complex matters to specialists or managers.
Mid-level HR job titles
Mid-level professionals usually have several years of experience. Some manage a broad range of HR functions, while others begin specializing in recruitment, compensation, training or employee relations.
Human resources specialist
Median salary: $72,910 per year
HR specialists recruit, screen and interview candidates. Depending on the organization, they may also handle employee relations, training, benefits or compensation.
The BLS reports that human resources specialists earned a median annual wage of $72,910 in May 2024.
HR generalist
Average salary: About $60,716 per year
An HR generalist manages several functions rather than focusing on one specialty. Typical responsibilities include recruitment, onboarding, policy administration, employee relations and performance management.
Generalist experience can be valuable for professionals who want to become HR managers.
HR analyst
Typical salary benchmark: About $77,020 per year for compensation, benefits and job analysis specialists
HR analysts collect and interpret workforce data. They may analyze turnover, employee engagement, compensation, recruiting performance or workforce demographics.
The role usually requires spreadsheet, reporting and data visualization skills in addition to HR knowledge.
HR supervisor
Average salary: About $65,818 per year
An HR supervisor leads a small team of assistants, coordinators or specialists. Supervisors distribute work, review employee records and help resolve operational issues.
In smaller companies, the HR supervisor may perform many of the duties that an HR manager handles in a larger organization.
Recruiter
Average salary: About $54,129 per year
Recruiters find and evaluate candidates for open positions. They create sourcing plans, review resumes, conduct interviews and communicate with hiring managers.
Recruiters may work internally for one company or externally for a staffing agency.
HR management job titles
HR managers are responsible for programs, teams and department results. Employers generally expect management candidates to have several years of HR experience and a strong understanding of employment law.
Human resources manager
Median salary: $140,030 per year
HR managers plan and oversee recruiting, employee relations, benefits and compliance programs. They also advise other managers about staffing and workplace policies.
According to the BLS, human resources managers earned a median annual wage of $140,030 in May 2024.
Employee relations manager
Average salary: About $69,633 per year
Employee relations managers help maintain productive relationships between employees and management. They investigate complaints, advise supervisors, document workplace issues and support disciplinary procedures.
Strong communication, neutrality and knowledge of employment law are essential in this role.
Training and development manager
Median salary: $127,090 per year
Training and development managers identify skills gaps and create learning programs. They may oversee leadership training, compliance education, onboarding and professional development.
They also measure whether training programs improve employee performance.
Compensation and benefits manager
Median salary: $140,360 per year
Compensation and benefits managers design salary structures, incentive programs, health plans and retirement benefits. They study market data and help employers offer competitive packages while controlling costs.
Recruiting manager
Typical salary: Varies by company and recruiting scope
Recruiting managers lead talent acquisition teams. They establish hiring processes, set recruiting targets, select sourcing tools and work with department leaders on workforce plans.
Senior and executive HR job titles
Senior HR leaders connect workforce decisions with company strategy. These professionals may report to the chief executive and participate in major decisions involving growth, restructuring, culture and risk.
HR director
Average salary: About $93,887 per year
An HR director oversees department operations, budgets and major employee programs. Directors may manage several HR managers or lead the complete HR function in a medium-sized company.
The title can also refer to a senior leader below the vice president of HR in a large organization.
Vice president of human resources
Average salary: About $129,047 per year
The vice president of HR develops company-wide workforce policies and supervises senior HR leaders. Responsibilities may include succession planning, executive compensation, culture, organizational design and labor strategy.
Chief human resources officer
Typical salary: Often comparable to or above senior HR management benchmarks
The chief human resources officer, or CHRO, is usually the highest-ranking HR executive. The CHRO advises the CEO and board on workforce strategy, leadership, company culture and organizational change.
Compensation varies considerably because executive packages may include bonuses, stock awards and other incentives.
Chief people officer
Typical salary: Varies by organization
Chief people officer is an alternative executive title used by many technology companies and employee-focused organizations. The position usually covers traditional HR responsibilities along with employee experience, culture and organizational development.
In some companies, chief people officer and CHRO mean the same thing.
Specialized HR job titles
Specialized careers allow HR professionals to develop expertise in a specific area.
Compensation and benefits specialist
Median salary: $77,020 per year
These specialists research salary data, evaluate job descriptions and administer benefit programs. They help ensure that compensation is competitive and internally consistent.
Training and development specialist
Median salary: $65,850 per year
Training specialists design courses, prepare learning materials and deliver employee programs. They may focus on technical skills, leadership development, compliance or onboarding.
Benefits administrator
Average salary: About $40,485 per year
Benefits administrators help employees enroll in health insurance, retirement plans and other programs. They also maintain records and communicate with benefit providers.
People analytics specialist
Typical salary: Varies by technical skill and experience
People analytics specialists use employee data to answer questions about hiring, retention, productivity and engagement. Employers may prefer candidates with HR experience plus knowledge of statistics, databases and visualization tools.
Diversity, equity and inclusion specialist
Typical salary: Varies by organization and responsibility level
These professionals review workplace practices, support inclusion programs and help organizations identify barriers affecting employees or candidates. The role may sit within HR, learning and development or organizational strategy.
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The HR hierarchy is flexible rather than universal. Focus on responsibilities, decision-making authority and required skills when comparing titles, because two companies may use different names for similar positions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest position in HR?
The highest position is usually chief human resources officer or chief people officer. This executive leads workforce strategy and normally reports to the CEO.
Is an HR generalist higher than an HR specialist?
Neither title is automatically higher. A generalist covers several HR functions, while a specialist concentrates on one area. Seniority depends on experience, responsibility and the employer’s structure.
What is the typical HR career path?
A common path is HR assistant, HR coordinator or specialist, HR generalist, HR manager, HR director and then vice president or CHRO. Specialists may follow separate paths in recruiting, compensation, training or analytics.
Do you need a degree to work in HR?
Many employers prefer a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business or a related subject. However, administrative experience, certifications and transferable skills may help candidates enter some assistant or coordinator roles.
Which HR specialty pays the most?
Management and executive roles generally offer the highest pay. Compensation and benefits management can also be highly paid, with a BLS median annual wage of $140,360 in May 2024.