What Is an HR Specialist? 2024 Guide

If you have a knack for finding top talent and driving organizational growth, a career as a human resources (HR) specialist might be a great fit. The HR field focuses on employees, which are the lifeblood of any company. HR specialists handle specific areas of human resources, such as recruiting and training employees, salaries and benefits, health and safety, and more.

Explore whether this exciting career is a good match for you by learning about typical job responsibilities, important skills, and what your career path might look like as an HR specialist.

What does an HR specialist do?

A human resources specialist helps manage and develop an organization’s workforce. They have a deep knowledge of recruitment practices designed to drive long-term sustainability and the skill set to handle a range of functions that contribute to the organization's overall effectiveness. Depending on their specific role, this could include recruitment assistance, interviewing, onboarding, orientation support, managing existing employees, tracking metrics, and more.

In contrast to HR generalists, who handle a variety of tasks, HR specialists usually have a smaller scope and focus on a specific aspect of the human resources process. For example, you might focus your work on recruitment, or you might be the person in charge of developing employee onboarding processes. Typical areas of specialization include:

• Employee recruitment

• Employee onboarding

• Compensation and benefits

• Training and development

Read more: A Human Resources Department Guide

HR generalist vs. HR specialist

HR generalists handle a wide range of tasks, from recruitment and onboarding to training and benefits. HR specialists, on the other hand, specialize in specific areas like compensation or employee relations, becoming experts in those fields.

Human resources specialist responsibilities

Because human resources specialists can focus their positions in a certain area, the responsibilities vary depending on the specialty. Most HR specialists typically have a broad foundation of HR knowledge. This means they can perform many responsibilities, even if they aren’t part of the current job description.

Some of the many responsibilities HR specialists have the expertise to handle include:

• Creating job descriptions and sourcing candidates

• Ensuring organizations comply with laws

• Conducting interviews and evaluating applicants

• Helping employees manage their compensation

• Coordinating hiring processes with managers

• Addressing employee feedback

• Mediating disputes between employees and management

• Promoting an environment that encourages employee satisfaction

• Administering employee benefit programs

• Identifying training needs and designing relevant programs

• Organizing orientation and onboarding procedures

• Managing risk

• Maintaining employee records

• Answering employee inquiries

• Tracking recruitment data and making adjustments

• Conducting performance evaluations

• Forecasting talent needs

• Retaining employees

Read more: Top Strategies to Build Employee Engagement

Human resources specialist skills

As a human resources specialist, you continually work with other people, both within and outside of your organization. You need to manage multiple expectations and find ways to support a positive work culture, even in the face of conflict. 

While human skills are extremely important in this position, strong technical knowledge of HR operations and recruitment analytics can set successful professionals apart. When entering this role, consider the following technical and workplace skills. 

Technical skills

• Operations and project management: Ability to manage multiple HR projects simultaneously and meet expectations

• Research and analytics: Proficiency in analyzing HR metrics to improve HR functions

• Deep knowledge of HR best practices: Understanding and implementing industry-standard HR practices to optimize employee performance and satisfaction

• Understanding of labor laws: Comprehensive knowledge of employment laws to ensure compliance and minimize legal risks

• Technical HR skills: Expertise in using HR software and tools, such as applicant tracking systems (ATS) and HR information systems (HRIS)

Workplace skills

• Leadership: HR specialists must have strong leadership skills to run new employee orientations and onboarding processes.

• Detail-oriented: HR specialists keep careful records of employee conduct and compensation, in addition to processing necessary paperwork for different aspects of the organization. 

• Time management: Efficiently managing all tasks related to your specialty area and meeting relevant deadlines

• Communication: Good communication skills support clear communication of relevant information with employees, management, and job candidates, and facilitate smooth information flow and conflict resolution.

• Interpersonal skills: Fostering a positive work environment through managing employee relations

Read more: Why Is Workplace Communication Important? And How to Improve It

HR specialist salary and job outlook

The annual median pay for human resource specialists in the US in 2023 was $67,650, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1]. This career is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade, with projected growth of 8 percent between 2023 and 2033, per the BLS. 

Education and training for human resource specialists

You can find several paths to enter into a career as an HR specialist, but focusing on building foundational skills and a strong resume can help you expand your job potential. Sixty-one percent of HR specialists hold a bachelor’s degree, 11 percent hold a master’s degree, and 16 percent hold an associate degree. Popular areas of study include business, human resources management, psychology, and management [2]. If a degree is not in your plans, you may consider certifications or a Professional Certificate such as the HRCI Human Resource Associate Professional Certificate on Coursera to help launch your career in HR.

Explore in more detail below how you can build your HR knowledge and grow your career.

Grow your skill set.

Across all careers, more skills generally mean more growth potential. To improve your HR skill set, consider taking courses online or through a community college or university. You can also build your human skills, such as conflict resolution and organizational ethics, with a corporate coaching or employee engagement class, or brush up on your technical skills by learning more about HR systems, ATS, or project management. If you find a course that supports both your growth and your employer's objectives, consider asking your employer to pay for it. Your company may even decide to sponsor a group of employees.  

Ask for more responsibility.

One way to learn new skills is to ask for more responsibility at work. Not only will you gain more HR-related knowledge, but you open yourself up for promotions and salary increases.

Get an HR certification.

HR certifications are industry-recognized credentials that help build on the knowledge and skills you need to perform your job or advance your career. You can find certifications for people just starting in the field, mid-level professionals, and HR managers working in multinational companies. For 45 years, HRCI (HR Certification Institute) has provided certifications like:

• Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR)

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR)

• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)

• Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)

While the aPHR certification does not require a specific degree or work experience, the other certifications require more education and work experience. 

Consider a master's degree.

If you're aiming for a top-level HR position like HR director or vice president of HR, a master's degree may distinguish you from other candidates. It can also help you earn a higher salary in a mid-level HR position. Common master's degree focus areas for HR professionals include:

• Human resource management

• Business administration

• Economics

• Finance

• Marketing 

• Organizational psychology

Many master's programs offer online courses so you can work and get your degree simultaneously. Depending on your circumstances, you can expect to spend one to three years getting a master's degree. 

Read more: Master’s in Management vs. MBA: Which Is Better?

HR specialist career path 

Whether you're currently working as an HR specialist or hoping to, it can be helpful to have ideas for possible career paths. In general, before beginning an HR specialist role, it can help to complete an HR internship to build experience and begin creating a professional network. After this, you can enter into an HR specialist role that suits your area of expertise and interest. If you want to enter a specialty such as recruitment or training, having an internship in these areas can be helpful.

In some cases, you might choose to move into other HR-related careers after spending time in an HR specialist role. Check out these three examples of HR leadership jobs and salaries you may want to aim for in the future:

1. HR manager

Median annual US salary: $136,350 [3]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 6 percent [3]

As an HR manager, you would have a broader range of duties than an HR specialist. You'd be responsible for overseeing a variety of HR programs involving employees like:

• Compensation and benefits

• Employee relations

• Employee performance

• Health and safety

• Recruitment and hiring 

• Training and development

HR managers often hold a master's in human resources or a related subject. Special skills for this position include communicating well with others, quick decision-making, and good organizational skills. 

Read more: What Is a Human Resources Manager? | Your 2024 Guide

2. Training and development manager

Median annual US salary: $125,040 [4]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 7 percent [4]

As a training and development manager, you would be in charge of training programs, training staff, and the training budget for an HR department. Some of your daily tasks might include:

• Consulting with department managers to identify training needs

• Developing and implementing training from start to finish

• Choosing training venues and materials

• Collaborating with training experts and mentors

• Evaluating the effectiveness of training programs

• Updating training programs and manuals if needed

Training and development managers have an education background that includes human resources, business management, secondary education, or organizational psychology. Special skills you might need for this job include leadership, comfort speaking to large audiences, problem-solving abilities, and a knack for working well under pressure. 

Read more: What Is Workplace Learning? Your 2024 Guide

3. Compensation and benefits manager

Median annual US salary: $136,380 [5]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 2 percent [5]

As a compensation and benefits manager, you would be responsible for all employee payroll and benefits programs. Some of your day-to-day duties might include:

• Overseeing the administration of payroll

• Supervising the administration of employee benefits, including wellness programs, insurance, retirement, and leave

• Tracking data to ensure pay rates and benefit packages are competitive with similar companies in the same area

• Monitoring government regulations regarding pay and benefits programs

Education and experience for a compensation and benefits manager typically include human resources, business, finance, or labor relations and, ideally, a few years of experience working in payroll or benefits administration. Special skills that can help you in this job include knowledge of computer spreadsheet software, attention to detail, and good communication skills. 

Getting started with Coursera

Depending on their specialty, HR specialists might implement modern recruitment strategies, facilitate a positive employee experience, design effective training programs, and manage organizational compensation and benefits practices. While HR generalists do a little bit of everything, HR specialists have the chance to develop expertise in a specific area of human resources.

If you're considering a career as an HR specialist, get ready to enter the field by earning the HRCI Human Resource Associate Professional Certificate on Coursera. This program is designed to help you gain in-demand skills to begin a career as an HR specialist. It's a five-course series addressing HR topics such as employee relations, recruitment, training and development, and more.