HR Career Path Options: Education, Jobs, Salaries

You’ll find a variety of careers in HR and opportunities to transition into other positions within a company with experience and additional training. Some professionals specialize in a certain area of HR, while others may move into managerial positions within the department. Explore HR duties, the different levels of HR positions, and how you can advance your HR career. 

What do HR professionals do?

HR professionals develop companies and teams by managing employee benefits, payroll, and performance metrics. To better understand what HR professionals do, it’s important to recognize the amount of planning, research, and decision-making involved in employee activities. HR professionals have a role at all points along an employee's lifecycle. These professionals recruit talent, develop employee support programs and initiatives, coordinate learning and development opportunities, and handle all personnel issues. 

When you work in HR, you will likely perform many of these duties throughout your career. Generally, you can specialize in one of these areas of HR as you advance to management levels. Check out these common areas of HR and the important functions of each: 

• Recruitment and acquisition: Finding the right people to fill positions within a company  

• Compensation and benefits: Negotiating compensation and benefits packages for new and existing employees 

• Company culture and employee motivation: Supporting employees through initiatives and programs that ensure a healthy workplace in alignment with company culture 

• Development and training: Creating training programs to equip employees with technical and interpersonal skills 

• Compliance, laws, and safety: Processing legal paperwork that ensures the safety of employees and organizational compliance with laws and regulations 

HR career paths

It’s possible to explore multiple career paths within HR, whether you are changing paths mid-career or following an hr career path ladder to more advanced positions. HR career path salaries vary according to your particular specializations, the number of years of experience, and your education level. Explore the following examples of common HR career paths and their average salaries. 

Entry-level positions

Start your career in HR with an entry-level role. These positions typically require an associate or bachelor's degree in HR or a related field and some limited prior professional experience. Entry-level positions allow you to build skills, gain experience, and learn more about the field. 

Read more: What Can I Expect from a Human Resources Degree?

1. HR intern 

Average US annual base salary: $46,984 [1]

As an HR intern, you can expect to move around an HR department, learning about all aspects and functions of HR. Some interns are current students, while others may be recent graduates, and internships can be full- or part-time. The duties of an HR intern vary by company type and size. Some everyday tasks of an intern include assisting in employee onboarding and helping optimize the recruiting process. 

2. HR assistant

Average US annual base salary: $48,677 [2]  

HR assistants will typically report to the HR manager and assist them in daily administrative tasks. HR assistants may process payroll, prepare employment records, or gather employees' personal information. They may also participate in recruiting, screening candidates, and arranging interviews, among other onboarding processes.

HR specialists

Many careers that fall under the HR specialist category handle a specific human resources section. HR career path titles for HR specialists may include talent acquisition, human resources information systems (HRIS) specialist, or benefits administrator. Individuals in these roles typically specialize in a certain function of a company’s HR department. Certification may be a requirement, as is years of HR experience. 

1. HR compliance specialist

Average US annual base salary: $74,503 [3]

HR compliance specialists ensure company compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Compliance specialists create and enforce policies and procedures in alignment with regulatory organizations. Some typical duties of this role include assessing risk management strategies, analyzing audit results, and planning operational activities. 

2. Recruitment specialist

Average US annual base salary: $55,584 [4]

Like talent acquisition specialists or HR recruiters, recruitment specialists identify highly qualified applicants to fill positions within a company. This process can encompass the entire hiring process, from recruitment to screening, interviewing, onboarding, and training. Each company may have its unique recruitment method. Someone in this role should know the various recruitment and applicant screening processes. 

3. Compensation and benefits specialist

Average US annual base salary: $89,343 [5]

Compensation and benefits specialists choose employee benefits packages based on research of other companies' offerings, legal requirements, and other factors that impact company compensation and benefits packages. This role requires communication with insurance companies and vendors, a company’s benefits department, and employees.

4. Employee relations specialist

Average US annual base salary: $75,015 [6]

Employee relations specialists are essentially the point of contact for employees and managers with concerns regarding compensation, garnishment, deductions, hiring, and termination processes. They oversee payroll, which involves training staff on using a payroll system, managing the accurate and timely processing of payments, and ensuring competitive employee pay scales. They also manage labor relationships throughout the company, offering counseling services to employees, participating in the recruitment process, and conducting exit interviews. 

5. People and culture specialist

Average US annual base salary: $55,656 [7] 

People and culture specialists, also called diversity and inclusion managers, aim to provide support and engagement to new and existing employees that align with a company’s goals, missions, and culture. Typical daily tasks involve training new employees, hosting employee events, and developing policies and initiatives that illustrate the company culture and offer support to employees. They work to promote diversity and cultivate an environment of inclusivity and acceptance in the workplace by identifying barriers and fostering positive communication.

6. HR generalist

Average US annual base salary: $76,536 [8]

HR generalists are in a leadership position, acting as the contact for both employees and managers who seek guidance and resolution for employee relational issues, compliance concerns, or other problems involving operative or administrative policies. They manage performance metrics, conduct new hire orientations, and ensure all company policies and procedures are legal and effective. 

HR managers

HR management positions involve a lot of decision-making. You are often the liaison for employees, managers, and even outside vendors if problems arise. Aside from troubleshooting and problem-solving, HR managers must preserve company culture while ensuring staff members receive the support, training, and pay they need. This balancing act requires a great deal of communication skills and business acumen. Many management positions require a master’s degree.

1. Compensation and benefits manager

Average US annual base salary: $$118,258 [9]

As a compensation and benefits manager, you are the key decision-maker for a company's benefits and pay scale. This task requires extensive research to ensure compensation and benefits packages are competitive and legal. Individuals in this role also consider a company’s budget when choosing and implementing compensation and benefits packages.

2. Training and development manager

Average US annual base salary: $98,053 [10]

As a training and development manager, you ensure all employees have the training they need for their respective positions, the support they need to do their jobs, and access to learning opportunities. Many companies view employee training as an investment in the business’ continuation, and the training and development manager creates and implements training programs, evaluates the effectiveness of training initiatives, and oversees the development and training of all staff. 

HR executives

HR executives have various duties and responsibilities, including overseeing employee relations and payroll operations. In this role, you may also revise company policies and oversee the operations of your HR department.

1. HR director 

Average US annual base salary: $138,439 [11]

As an HR director, you oversee the services, policies, and procedures of your company’s HR department and develop strategic plans to improve the effectiveness of your department. You may also manage the department’s budget and communicate with other executives in the company.

2. Chief human resources director (CHRO)

Average US annual base salary: $162,499 [12]

As a CHRO, you may oversee the entire HR team, ensuring everyone is doing their jobs properly. You also collaborate with the company's CEO on business improvement strategies. As a CHRO, you may act as a liaison between the company's employees and executives, and you create and enforce labor policies within your organization that conform to legal regulations and the company’s vision and culture. 

3. VP of HR

Average US annual base salary: $171,202 [13]

As a VP of HR, you are responsible for ensuring the company follows all labor laws, both at the federal and state levels. You also may deal with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, pension plans, and taxes. The VP of HR may have to handle necessary disciplinary actions or even write company policies concerning its employees.

4. VP of talent acquisition

Average US annual base salary: $163,722 [14]

As the VP of talent acquisition, you help the human resource department by developing strategies to find and recruit employees suitable for open positions at your company. You decide what qualifications are necessary for different roles, and you may be responsible for a large amount of marketing and lead generation to keep roles filled with qualified candidates.

5. Chief diversity officer

Average US annual base salary: $148,160 [15]

As a chief diversity officer, your primary concern is fostering diversity and inclusion within your organization. You may develop and implement policies to ensure diversity and are responsible for handling any violations of these policies. You also identify barriers to inclusivity within your organization and develop strategies to overcome them. Finally, you ensure that all internal and external communication is inclusive and non-discriminatory.

How to advance your career in HR

As with many other corporate careers, experience and education are key to moving up in your HR career. One of the perks of working in HR is the many different job titles, specialties, and opportunities for promotion. To take advantage and move up in your HR career, identify ways to build highly sought-after skills, gain professional experience, and set yourself apart as a highly qualified HR professional. You can achieve these goals in a few ways:

Gain certification.

HR professionals can get certified in general or specialty HR functions. You can also find certifications designed for management-level positions. Certification can aid your career advancement, leading to greater opportunities and earning potential. HRCI is one of the top certifying organizations for HR professionals and is available on Coursera. You can prepare for the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification exam to set yourself apart as a qualified HR professional.

Build the necessary skill set.

Most careers in HR will require related skills such as communication, decision-making, and training and development. Technical skills, like software proficiency, fluency in a second language, and programming, can also serve you well across various HR roles. You can increase your career opportunities by broadening and sharpening these and other relevant skill sets. Enrolling in an online course specific to the HR role you're working toward is an effective way to hone your skills.  On Coursera, you can find a range of HR courses to prepare you for more advanced positions in HR, such as Human Resource Management: Human Resources for People Management.  

Join an organization for HR professionals.

Becoming a part of a community of other HR professionals has many benefits, including professional development, educational resources, and networking opportunities. You can learn new ways of doing things, better understand other HR roles, and build your reputation as an HR professional in your industry. Professional organization membership also looks great on resumes, and many organizations offer certification discounts for members.

Consider a master’s degree.

Many HR management and senior-level positions may require a master's degree in human resources management or business administration. If you are interested in roles pertaining to legal compliance or labor laws, you may need a law degree. If you’re already working for a company as an HR professional, you can ask about tuition reimbursement programs, as some companies offer this benefit to employees seeking advanced degrees. 

Read more: What Is a Master’s Degree?

Start your HR career journey with Coursera.

Whether you’re new to the HR field or ready to move into a new role within the industry, you can always build your skills and knowledge of the many functions of HR. Online courses like those offered on Coursera provide excellent and convenient opportunities to learn and improve upon in-demand HR skills and build your resume. 

You can explore new tools through courses like Hiring and Onboarding Employees with ClickUp and Human Resources Analytics. You can also find more general HR development courses, such as the University of Minnesota’s Preparing to Manage Human Resources and The Manager's Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Managing People at Work, offered by the University of London. Explore these and other HR skill-building opportunities offered on Coursera.