HR manager salary in the US (2026)

Alabama is not among the top-paying states in the BLS OEWS data set used here, so salaries there typically fall below the national median of $149,280. For budgeting purposes, anchoring an Alabama-based offer closer to the 25th percentile of $111,110 is a reasonable starting point. You should verify local market rates before finalizing an offer, as state-level figures can shift meaningfully by metro area.

New York, Massachusetts, and California pay the most for HR managers, with average annual salaries of $197,390, $195,110, and $191,920 respectively. If you are competing for talent in any of these states, expect to budget well above the national average of $164,230. Washington and Colorado also rank high, with averages of $178,830 and $178,670.

HR managers at the 90th percentile earn $267,810 annually. If you are recruiting senior HR leadership in a high-demand market, offers in the $199,290 to $267,810 range reflect the top quarter of the national pay distribution. Roles at this level typically carry broad strategic scope, and compensation packages often include equity or performance bonuses beyond base salary.

The average HR manager salary in the US is $164,230, based on BLS OEWS data covering 220,660 employed HR managers. The median of $149,280 is a more stable benchmark for setting offers, since it is less sensitive to high earners at large organizations. For most hiring situations, anchoring your initial offer between $149,280 and $164,230 gives you a defensible and market-aligned starting point.