Companies and organizations of all sizes, including not-for-profits, employ human resources employees at some level. Some human resources employees work in-house, while others may be employed on a contract basis, especially for small companies with fewer than 10 employees. Positions in human resources are incredibly desirable, and qualified employees are in high demand. Here are four HR management positions that require a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Human Resources Manager
HR managers are responsible for acting as a link between upper-level management and the employees within an organization. They’re involved in staffing decisions, especially recruiting, hiring and training new employees.
Human resources managers oversee a staff of employees within their department and thus have administrative and management duties. They oversee compliance issues and employee payroll, training and benefits. They may advise on issues like equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, mediate disputes and handle disciplinary actions.
Opportunities for this job are expected to grow 9 percent by 2024. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), human resources managers earn a median annual wage of $104,440.
Training and Development Manager
Another well-paying job in HR is training and development manager. The median annual wage for those in this role is $102,640, the BLS reports. This job is projected to grow 7 percent by 2024. Training and development managers are necessary to almost every industry, so job opportunities are plentiful.
Training and development managers are responsible for directing and coordinating plans that aim to better a company or organization’s employees. They implement and oversee new training initiatives and ensure employees learn necessary new skills. They may oversee a staff of training and development specialists.
Compensation and Benefits Manager
Compensation and benefits managers are tasked with creating and implementing programming that audits how much a company or organization pays its employees. They’re responsible for directing and coordinating employee health insurance, retirement plans and other benefits.
The BLS reports that those in this role earn a median annual salary of $111,430, with job growth projected at 6 percent by 2024.
Labor Relations Specialist
Though the need for labor relations specialists is expected to decline over the next several years due to fewer people working for unions, some companies and organizations do need to fill this important role. It is the job of a labor relations specialist to analyze and facilitate labor contracts regarding wages and salaries, health care, pensions and management practices.
Most labor relations specialists work full time in an office environment. The median annual pay for those in this position is $58,820, according to the BLS.