HR Salary in Massachusetts

Massachusetts’ strong and diverse economy not only means plenty of jobs in all areas of human resources, but plenty of high-paying jobs for everyone from entry-level HR assistants to senior-level HR managers to training and development managers.

In fact, Massachusetts is home to some of the highest paid HR professionals in the country, including:

  • Human Resources Specialists: Third highest salary in the U.S.; annual mean salary of $74,940
  • Training and Development Specialists: Third highest salary in the U.S.; annual mean salary of $77,080
  • Human Resources Assistants: Third highest salary in the U.S.; annual mean salary of $47,380

Human Resources Management Salaries in Massachusetts

While there is a wide array of excellent job opportunities for HR professionals of all levels in Massachusetts, it’s the managers, supervisors, and executives in human resources who enjoy the highest salaries. In Massachusetts, HR management professionals across the board earn well into the six digits at the median level:

  • Compensation and benefits managers: $117,930
  • Human resources managers: $123,750
  • Training and development managers: $117,330

Achieving one of these high-ranking HR positions doesn’t come easy, as they are reserved for those with an advanced level of education; usually a Master of Human Resources (MHR) or a similar degree. These pros also often have extensive experience and professional certification through one of the national certifying bodies like the SHRM or the HRCI.

A closer look at the earning potential for HR management professionals in Massachusetts’ largest metro areas of Boston and Worcester is found in the following tables:

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Boston

No surprise here: Boston, long considered the epicenter of biotech and healthcare companies, is also home to some of the highest salaries for HR management professionals. For example, human resources managers here earn a median salary of $130,570, which is about $7,000 more than the state average and $17,000 more than the national average for this profession.

Occupation
Employment
Hourly median wage
Compensation and Benefits Managers
710
57.94
Human Resources Managers
5360
62.77
Training and Development Managers
1590
58.92

 

Worcester

While average salaries for HR management professionals in the Worcester metro area can’t stack up to those in the Boston metro area, they are still quite competitive. For example, compensation and benefits managers here earn a median salary of $101,420 and a top (90th percentile) average salary of $175,280.

Occupation
Employment
Hourly median wage
Compensation and Benefits Managers
90
48.76
Human Resources Managers
450
46.79
Training and Development Managers
130
37.80

 

Human Resources Specialist and Assistant Salaries in Massachusetts

Massachusetts’ HR specialists are among the top-paid in the nation, in many cases. For example, HR assistants are the third highest-paid in the nation. With a median salary of $46,250, these HR pros earn about $6,000 more than the national median salary for this profession.

Additional information regarding what human resources specialists and assistants in Massachusetts’ largest metro areas of Boston and Worcester earn at all levels is available through the following tables:

Boston

Most HR specialists in Boston earn median salaries that hover in the $70,000s. For example, labor relations specialists here earn a median salary of $74,060, which is about $4,000 more than the state median salary and about $11,000 more than the national median salary for this profession.

Occupation
Employment
Hourly median wage
Human Resources Specialists
14400
33.92
Labor Relations Specialists
2000
35.61
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
1660
34.96
Training and Development Specialists
6050
34.04
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
1870
22.67

 

Worcester

The highest earners among HR specialists and assistants in the Worcester metro area are labor relations specialists, who earn a median salary of $81,580, which is about $11,000 more than the state median salary for this profession.

Occupation
Employment
Hourly median wage
Human Resources Specialists
1100
31.04
Labor Relations Specialists
220
39.22
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
210
30.66
Training and Development Specialists
590
31.56
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
270
19.51

 

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Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2018 for human resources managers, specialists, and assistants – https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ma.htm#11-9111. The BLS salary data shown here represents median – 90th percentile salary ranges for the state and its MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. 

All salary and job growth data accessed in September 2019.

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