verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

HR Specialist Salary in California

Median Annual in California
$83,500/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$40.14/hr
▲ 10% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in California

groups Employed in CA
104,000
public U.S. Median
$75,940
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$75,415 #22 of 51

HR Specialist pay in California, explained

Human resources specialists in California earn a median of $83,500 per year ($40.14 per hour), which is 10% above the national median of $75,940. Entry-level workers earn around $52,770, while the most experienced human resources specialists reach about $151,410. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within California.

Is $83,500 good pay in California?

Adjusted for California's cost of living (which runs 111% of the U.S. average), that $83,500 is worth about $75,415 in national buying power — ranking California #22 for real pay (vs #6 on the sticker number).

See the full HR Specialist Real Pay Index arrow_forward

HR Specialist pay by experience in California

Entry level (10th pct)
$52,770
$25.37/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$83,500
$40.14/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$151,410
$72.79/hr

HR Specialist pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs CA
California (here) $83,500 $75,415
Oregon $78,060 $75,522 +$5,440
Nevada $71,610 $71,625 +$11,890
Arizona $71,390 $70,910 +$12,110

HR Specialist in California: FAQ

How much do human resources specialists make in California?

Human resources specialists in California earn a median of $83,500 per year ($40.14 per hour), compared with $75,940 nationally.

Does California pay human resources specialists well?

At $83,500, California pays 10% above the national median for human resources specialists. An estimated 104,000 work in the state.

HR Specialist salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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