Best paying cities for human resources specialists, after cost of living
After cost of living, human resources specialist pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $101,576) and least far in Miami (worth $59,177).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $112,140 | 110.4 | $101,576 | +34% |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $100,830 | 108.9 | $92,590 | +22% |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $103,140 | 115.6 | $89,221 | +17% |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $92,770 | 111.1 | $83,501 | +10% |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $90,270 | 108.3 | $83,352 | +10% |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $78,330 | 97.3 | $80,504 | +6% |
| 7 | New York, NY | $89,780 | 112.6 | $79,734 | +5% |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $82,380 | 104.5 | $78,833 | +4% |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $82,550 | 105.8 | $78,025 | +3% |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $75,860 | 98.1 | $77,329 | +2% |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $72,930 | 94.7 | $77,012 | +1% |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $80,330 | 104.8 | $76,651 | +1% |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $80,100 | 105.4 | $75,996 | 0% |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $80,950 | 106.7 | $75,867 | 0% |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $75,830 | 100.3 | $75,603 | 0% |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $78,210 | 103.6 | $75,492 | −1% |
| 17 | St. Louis, MO | $71,670 | 95.1 | $75,363 | −1% |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $75,410 | 100.1 | $75,335 | −1% |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,700 | 102.6 | $74,756 | −2% |
| 20 | Houston, TX | $72,550 | 98.6 | $73,580 | −3% |
| 21 | San Diego, CA | $81,300 | 111.9 | $72,654 | −4% |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,640 | 103.3 | $72,256 | −5% |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $80,220 | 113.6 | $70,616 | −7% |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $67,380 | 96.3 | $69,969 | −8% |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $69,950 | 100.2 | $69,810 | −8% |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,260 | 94.7 | $68,912 | −9% |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $70,700 | 103.1 | $68,574 | −10% |
| 28 | Tampa, FL | $65,580 | 100.9 | $64,995 | −14% |
| 29 | Orlando, FL | $65,430 | 101.4 | $64,527 | −15% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $67,580 | 114.2 | $59,177 | −22% |
U.S. median for human resources specialists: $75,940. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Human Resources Specialists, SOC 13-1071); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.