An HR generalist holds one of the most versatile positions in the human resources department. They are proficient in all essential HR functions and can handle a wide range of duties. As a result, every HR department requires a talented employee for this position, and the average HR generalist in the United States earns an impressive salary.
Although I have mentioned the average salary a Human Resources generalist makes in previous articles, this article covers all the essential compensation statistics for the HR generalist role and a salary breakdown by location.
Let’s dive right in.
Key Takeaways
- An HR generalist covers most HR functions, including talent acquisition, hiring, training and development, employee engagement and performance, and compensation and benefits.
- The average base salary in your state (or city) is determined by various factors, including education, certification, experience, and location, with the most common being the cost of living.
- Depending on your location, a human resources generalist can receive an average salary of $89,000 – $109,000 yearly with the probable highest being $115,000.
What Is an HR Generalist?
An HR Generalist, as opposed to a specialist, typically handles a wide range of HR-related duties. They cover the majority of HR functions, including talent acquisition, hiring, training and development, employee engagement and performance, and compensation and benefits. Human Resources Generalists also assist leaders in making people-related decisions and are involved in all stages of the employee life cycle.
The organization’s needs heavily influence an HR Generalist’s daily goals and tasks. For example, if a tech startup is rapidly expanding, capability building is critical, and the broad skills and expertise of an HR Generalist would be beneficial.
As organizations grow, HR departments divide HR Generalist tasks into more specialized roles, with subject matter experts overseeing each of these areas. However, some companies continue to use the title to describe a person who performs the organization’s basic people-related functions.
Many companies use the term “HR Generalist” to describe a blend of Employee Relations and HR Business Partner roles, rather than a real generalist who handles all aspects of Human Resources.
What Do HR Generalists Do?
HR jobs have changed as the department became necessary for many companies. An HR generalist is expected to handle a number of tasks. HR generalists identify and meet human-related business needs, whether it’s discharging an employee or resolving employee issues, with an extensive understanding of corporate policies.
See Also: Top 6 Effective Recruitment Strategies to Attract and Retain Top Talent in 2025
An HR generalist’s typical responsibilities include the following:
- Hiring new employees to complement your current workforce.
- Conducting employee background checks during the employment process.
- Releasing personnel who no longer suit the company’s vision.
- Deciding on employee salary and benefits packages.
- Handling employee challenges and resolving conflicts among individual employees or between employees and their employer.
- Training both new and existing staff on any new process modifications.
- Maintaining company compliance with all federal and state regulations.
- Developing and implementing employee appreciation programs to honor employees who make significant contributions to the workplace.
These and other tasks keep human resources generalists busy as they work to provide staff with the necessary tools.
Read More: WHO IS A HUMAN RESOURCE GENERALIST: Skills & Qualities of a HR Generalist
Average Human Resources Generalist Salary
The base HR generalist salary varies by state in the United States. The average base salary in your state (or city) is determined by various factors, with the most common being the cost of living. However, it is also determined by years of professional experience and industry. Some compensation statistics from the leading sources of salary figures are included below:
Glassdoor
The average human resources generalist salary in the United States is $89,000 per year, according to Glassdoor. In general, the average pay ranges between $70,000 and $115,000. Furthermore, records show that in addition to their base income, HR generalists earn “additional cash compensation” ranging from $11,000 to $20,000.
Indeed
According to Indeed, the national average for HR generalist salaries is $64,353. These estimates are based on around 12.3k salary reports from across the United States, including major hubs like New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.
PayScale
According to PayScale, another reliable source for salary estimates, the typical annual base income for an HR generalist in the United States is $60,337.
They can also receive significant additional compensation in the form of bonuses (up to $7,000), commissions (up to $11,000), and profit (up to $6,000), increasing their total annual take-home income to around $77,000.
Read More: How Much Does Human Resources Make in 2024? Detailed Pay Guide
Human Resources Generalist Salary by Location
According to Glassdoor, the cities with the highest-paying HR generalist salaries are categorized as follows:
U.S. West Coast
The average yearly salary for HR generalists is as follows.
Portland: $89, 000
US Midwest/Rocky Mountains
The average yearly salary for HR generalists is as follows.
Chicago: $90,000.
US East Coast
The average yearly salary for HR generalists is as follows.
New York: $109,000.
U.S. South The average yearly salary for HR generalists is as follows. Atlanta: $91,000. Dallas: $91,000.
Human Resources Generalist Salary at Top Companies
According to Glassdoor, below is the annual average HR generalist salary in some of the top companies across several industries.
- Marriott International – $65,000.
- Nestle USA – $93,983.
- Walgreens – $72,856.
- T-Mobile – $91,138.
- Comcast – $73,398.
Salary Along the Human Resources Generalist Career Path
Because it is an entry-level role, an HR generalist’s career can progress significantly with more years of professional experience. Their knowledge allows them to easily transfer into managerial roles because they understand all HR functions. After having valuable professional experience, the professional can advance to become a senior HR generalist.
The HR professional can then proceed to a major HR generalist position, which has increasingly significant and broad responsibilities. Years of professional experience and skill eventually lead to the individual’s appointment as Vice President of Human Resources.
See Also: Is Human Resources a Good Career Choice for You? A Detailed Guide for Your HR Journey
The average salary for more senior roles on the HR generalist career path (according to Glassdoor and reported in June 2024) are as follows:
Senior HR Generalist
A senior HR generalist position necessitates extensive technical knowledge of human resources and years of experience handling various HR functions. The role pays $121k annually and requires two to four years of HR experience.
Principal HR Generalist
After managing a variety of human resource duties for at least eight years, a professional can advance to the position of principal HR generalist. This is a high position within the department, and the average HR generalist earns an average annual salary of $180,000.
Vice President of HR
After gaining more competence and skill, a primary HR generalist can be promoted to VP of HR and take over responsibility for the entire HR department. The position pays $345k per year and is critical for companies that want a well-functioning human resources division.
Education
Organizations expect HR generalists to have a comprehensive set of skills because their responsibilities include managing a wide range of HR operations. As a result, obtaining a well-paying HR generalist position requires attaining the appropriate academic qualifications and certifications.
An HR generalist should hold a bachelor’s degree in human resources management, business administration, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree can help them rise to a higher-level professional position, such as an HR manager.
Certifications
As with other HR professions, an HR generalist can pursue and add a variety of certifications to their portfolio. Some prominent ones are listed below:
HR University: They provide a high-quality HR generalist certification, allowing you to delve deeply into the HR generalist skills and expertise. Any HR manager wanting to advance their management career can enroll in the course and profit from its unique content.
SHRM: Their certified professional certification aims to provide HR professionals with the foundational human resources skills required for an HR generalist function or any other job title.
HRCI: It offers several certifications for HR professionals of all levels, including the ‘Professional in Human Resources’ certification.
Conclusion
Since it provides a wide professional experience, consider taking different paths following a successful HR generalist career. Unlike positions that demand specialization, you have the opportunity to develop knowledge and expertise in a variety of fields.
By sticking to the HR generalist route, you can advance to the position of HR Business Partner, where you will collaborate with upper management to develop and implement initiatives. After that, progress to more senior positions, such as HR Director.
FAQs
What Is the Highest Human Resources Generalist Salary?
According to Glassdoor, the highest generalist salaries are:
- HR Generalist. $70K–$115K/yr.
- Hr Generalist Manager. $80K–$123K/yr.
- HR Generalist IV. $86K–$130K/yr.
What Do HR Generalists Do?
Depending on the organization’s needs, an HR Generalist can be involved in recruiting candidates and onboarding recruits, employee administration and support, benefits administration, employee relations, performance management, compliance, training and development, and other activities.
Is the HR Generalist Higher Than the Manager?
An HR generalist is an HR employee who usually reports to an HR manager or director.
What Is a Human Resources Generalist Salary UK?
According to Glassdoor, HR Generalists earn an average annual pay of £40,278 in the United Kingdom. The average additional cash compensation for an HR Generalist in the United Kingdom is £2,962, with a range of £1,716 to £5,111.
Is HR Generalist a Stressful Job?
If you’ve been an HR manager for a while, the answer is undoubtedly yes. However, if you are not pushing yourself to the limit and your job demands you to perform tasks that put your talents and abilities to the test, you will appreciate it because of the constant work challenges.
What Is the Next Step After HR Generalist?
Depending on your career development and if you choose to stay on the generalist path, the next step up the ladder is that of an HR manager. An HR manager, like a generalist, is involved in a wide range of HR and organizational functions.
Related
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- HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER JOBS: Thrive in Human Resources Managerial Roles!
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