When most people think of human resources (HR), the only career that comes to mind is HR manager. In reality, however, a human resources education can prepare you for a variety of thrilling job opportunities, each of which requires a particular set of skills. Best of all, human resources is a field that is expected to remain in high demand and unlikely to be displaced by technology developments. To help anyone pursuing a career in human resources choose the exact career that is most suited to their skills and interests, I will provide information on 13 lucrative HR careers you may not have heard of in this article and some statistics to show you why you should pursue a career in HR.

Key Takeaways 

• HR is in charge of various tasks, including recruiting new employees, overseeing employee benefits programs, coordinating professional development, and ensuring labor law compliance.
• Opportunities for human resources specialists are projected to increase by 6% over the next decade, creating 78,700 new jobs by 2032 making it a worthwhile career choice.
• HR manager, analyst, and talent acquisition specialist are some of the careers you can get into as an HR professional.

Human resources can be a fulfilling career for those who like assisting others in finding satisfaction and purpose in their work. Effective human resource management complies with applicable employment standards and contributes to a corporate culture in which employees feel valued. Understanding the many functions and careers in human resources will help you decide whether it is the right career path for you. But first, why should you go into HR? Find out below.

Why Pursue a Career in Human Resources?

Human resource professionals play an important role in any company. They are in charge of a variety of tasks, including recruiting new employees, overseeing employee benefits programs, coordinating professional development, and ensuring labor law compliance. A career in human resources can be rewarding, with opportunities to positively impact both individual careers and the overall performance of the company they work for. 

HR professionals can work in a wide range of industries and environments, which adds to the appeal of this career path. Let’s look at the job outlook for HR professionals and the skills that may be gained through an HR degree program.

See Also: Is Human Resources a Good Career Choice for You? A Detailed Guide for Your HR Journey

Human Resource Career Outlook 

The future of human resources appears to be stable and adaptable to technology and generational changes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that opportunities for human resources specialists will increase by 6% over the next decade, creating 78,700 new jobs by 2032. HR specialists had an annual median pay of $67,650 in May 2023. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, HR managers earned $136,350 during the same time. 

Higher-level positions requiring a master’s degree are also in demand. As technology continues to affect how people work, HR professionals must become more adaptable. Focusing on critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as staying up to date on new technology, can help HR professionals remain hireable and advance their careers.

Skills Acquired With a Human Resources Degree

A career in HR requires a blend of personal and professional skills. Important personal skills include: 

• Strong communication skills. 
• Active listening skills. 
• Empathy 

Organizational skills are important for Time management, scheduling, project management, and record-keeping. Adaptability enables HR professionals to remain flexible and make educated decisions in the face of change. HR has access to sensitive personal and company information, thus confidentiality is paramount. 

Leadership skills are especially vital for HR managers, but all HR professionals can benefit from being decisive and assertive when needed. 

Automation and human resource information system (HRIS) software play an increasingly important role in HR functions, making technical skills more important. The ability to handle a variety of HR tasks, such as creating work schedules, onboarding, and ensuring compliance, is also required.

See Also: How to Become an Effective Human Resource Manager in 4 Steps

13 Fulfilling Careers in Human Resources 

#1. HR Manager 

Let’s start with the most well-known HR career: HR manager. While the role of an HR manager is well-known, it does not make this particular job any less interesting or gratifying. HR managers oversee an organization’s administrative processes, conduct interviews, find and hire new employees, and act as liaisons between employees and management. An HR manager is a must-have for any company with more than a handful of employees.

Average Salary: $82,025 per year

See Also: HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER JOBS: Thrive in Human Resources Managerial Roles!

#2. Payroll Specialist 

Payroll specialists, who are part accountant and part HR manager, are responsible for handling employee salary-related tasks such as processing payroll, developing salary administration policies, managing employee deductions, and processing files for 401K and other retirement accounts. If you are equally adept at working with statistics as you are with people, a career as a payroll specialist is well worth considering.

Average Salary: $40,979 per year

#3. Training Coordinator 

Properly training new employees is an essential function of any organization, and many companies prefer to hire a training coordinator to handle this important process. As a training coordinator, you will be in charge of bringing new workers up to speed with corporate and role-specific standards. You may also be in charge of developing and ensuring the effective execution of an organization’s training programs for onboarding new employees.

Average Salary: $54,472 per year

#4. Benefits Administrator 

While payroll specialists manage aspects of the financial incentives that an organization’s employees receive, benefits administrators handle everything else that an employee receives as a benefit for their service, such as healthcare, employee discounts, paid tuition, and any other non-wage benefit that an organization can provide. In addition to assisting new employees in selecting their benefits, a benefits administrator is also responsible for assisting current employees in overseeing changes to their benefits when they experience a significant life event such as marriage or childbirth.

Average Salary: $60,193 per year

#5. Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) Specialist 

Technology is becoming increasingly important in many areas of business, including human resources. Today, many companies rely on a diverse set of software applications designed to handle a wide range of HR functions, from tracking employee performance to managing payroll and beyond. As an HRIS specialist, your responsibilities will include researching, recommending, and implementing these technologies. If you want to work in a field where the human and technological aspects of business intersect, being an HRIS specialist may be the best choice for you.

Average Salary: $70,831 per year

#6. Employee Relations Manager 

An employee relations manager is a human resources specialist who functions similarly to an in-house counselor. Employee relations managers are in charge of settling workplace conflicts, conducting exit interviews, resolving grievances, and assisting an organization’s management in developing positive relationships with their employees. If you have the skills needed to work as a counselor and are trained in human resources, becoming an employee relations manager is an excellent career route to pursue.

Average Salary: $82,029 per year

#7. Compensation Specialist 

A compensation specialist’s responsibilities involve recommending a suitable pay and compensation plan for all employees in an organization. Compensation specialists not only help decide how much employees should be paid for their work, but they also conduct regular market research to ensure that their organization’s compensation policies stay competitive.

Average Salary: $93,128 per year

#8. Leadership Coach 

More and more organizations are recognizing the value of working with a leadership coach, making a career as a leadership coach rich with opportunity. Most leadership coaches today work for themselves or a larger consulting firm, however, some companies use in-house leadership coaches. As a leadership coach, you are responsible for working with the company’s management and executive professionals to teach them the leadership skills necessary to better manage their staff.

Average Salary: $93,494 per year

#9. Talent Acquisition Specialist 

While many companies delegate the duty of recruiting new talent to their HR manager, several others choose to hire a professional talent acquisition specialist to find, recruit, and eventually hire new employees. If you have an eye for sniffing out talent in others and the ability to organize people around your cause, a career as a talent acquisition specialist can be extremely gratifying to pursue.

Average Salary: $71,477 per year

#10. Internship Coordinator 

Managing interns typically necessitates a whole different approach than managing employees. As a result, many organizations hire internship coordinators to handle the tasks of recruiting interns, training them on their responsibilities, and supervising them throughout their internship. As an internship coordinator, you will often work with a younger group of people than other HR positions. If you enjoy dealing with the young generation, you will be a good fit for a career as an internship coordinator.

Average Salary: $53,867 per year

#11. HR Analyst 

Good data is the fuel that powers a business, and the human resources department is no exception. As an HR analyst, you will analyze and interpret data on retention rates, employee performance, time to hire, and other metrics to help the organization’s decision-making process. If you are skilled at analyzing data to draw critical insights yet want to work in human resources, becoming an HR analyst is an excellent career choice.

Average Salary: $79,269 per year

#12. HR Consultant 

HR professionals are often in charge of training and consulting with other employees, but who is responsible for training HR professionals? This is where HR consultants come in. HR consultants are often self-employed or employed by a consulting firm, rather than working for the company that hires them to consult on HR matters. As an HR consultant, you will advise the company that hired you on how to improve its HR department and policies, as well as train other HR professionals directly.

Average Salary: $79,269 per year

#13. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialists 

As more and more companies acknowledge the significant importance of diversity and inclusion, many are hiring diversity, equity, and inclusion specialists to ensure that every employee, regardless of color or background, is recognized and valued. Diversity, equity, and inclusion specialists are in charge of developing and overseeing diversity training programs, as well as facilitating a more equitable and inclusive work environment within the company they work for.

Average Salary: $95,401 per year

FAQs

What Other Careers Can Human Resources Do?

13 Rewarding human resources Careers You May Have Never Heard About:

1. HR Manager
2. Payroll Specialist
3. Benefits Administrator
4. Leadership Coach
5. Talent Acquisition Specialist
6. Training Coordinator
7. Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) Specialist
8. Employee Relations Manager
9. Compensation Specialist 
10. Internship Coordinator 
11. HR Consultant 
12. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist 
13. HR Analyst 

What Kind of Work Do You Do in HR?

HR functions are typically divided into five categories: talent management, compensation and benefits, training and development, compliance, and worker safety.

What Is the Easiest Job in HR?

5 Great Entry-Level Human Resources Jobs:

• Human Resources Assistant.
• HR Coordinator.
• Recruiter.
• Temp Agency Assistant.
• HR Specialist.

Related

• 10 Words That Scare Human Resources & How to Handle Them
• 14 Entry-Level Human Resources Jobs: All You Need to Know
• HR REPORT SAMPLES AND TEMPLATES: A Guide to Perfect HR Reporting

References 

• Indeed.com
• Glassdoor.com
• Paycor.com