Human Resources Manager
What you need to know
Human resources managers plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. They oversee the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new staff; consult with top executives on strategic planning; and serve as a link between an organization’s management and its employees.
Human resources managers are employed in nearly every industry. They work in offices, and most work full time during regular business hours. Some must travel to attend professional meetings or to recruit employees.
Some of the things a human resources manager might do:
- Plan and coordinate an organization’s workforce to best use employees’ talents
- Link an organization’s management with its employees
- Plan and oversee employee benefit programs
- Serve as a consultant with other managers advising them on human resources issues, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment
- Coordinate and supervise the work of specialists and support staff
- Oversee an organization’s recruitment, interview, selection, and hiring processes
- Handle staffing issues, such as mediating disputes and directing disciplinary procedures
Watch this video to learn about what our human resources manager role models do in their careers:
- Decision Making skills: Human resources managers must be able to balance the strengths and weaknesses of different options and decide the best course of action. Many of their decisions have a significant impact on operations or workers, such as deciding whether to hire an employee.
- Interpersonal skills: Human resources managers need strong interpersonal skills because they interact regularly with people. They often collaborate on teams and must develop positive working relationships with their colleagues.
- Leadership skills: Human resources managers must be able to direct a staff and oversee the operations of their department. They must coordinate work activities and ensure that workers in the department complete their duties and fulfill their responsibilities.
- Organizational skills: Organizational skills are essential for human resources managers, who must be able to prioritize tasks and manage several projects at once.
- Speaking skills: Human resources managers rely on strong speaking skills to give presentations and direct their staff. They must clearly communicate information and instructions to their staff and other employees.
Watch this video to learn more from our human resources manager role models:
The average pay for human resources managers in the United States was $136,350 in May 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A human resources manager’s pay depends on factors such as level of experience, education and training, geographic location, and specific industry.
About 15,500 new job openings for human resources managers are projected each year, on average, over the next 10 years in the United States.
Overall employment of human resources managers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.
Employment growth depends largely on the performance and growth of individual companies. As new companies form and organizations expand their operations, they will need more human resources managers to oversee and administer their programs.
Human resources managers usually need a bachelor’s degree. Candidates may earn a bachelor’s degree in human resources or in another field, such as finance, business management, education, or information technology. Courses in subjects such as conflict management or industrial psychology may be helpful.
Some higher level jobs require a master’s degree in human resources, labor relations, or business administration (MBA).
Discover some of the courses you will take pursuing a degree in Human Resource Development.
Watch this video to learn more from our human resources manager role models:
