The Average HR Generalist Salary
Human resources generalists manage employee satisfaction by handling recruiting, training, compensation and benefits. Though they may handle only one area in larger companies with many HR professionals, they are most often in smaller companies handling all HR duties. The highest-paid generalists can make more than three times what the lowest-paid one earns.
Basics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that as of May 2009, the median compensation of HR generalists is $27.14 hourly or $56,440 yearly. The bottom 10 percent make $13.16 or $27,360, and the upper 10 percent receive $45.42 or $94,470.
Industries
The type of industry affects income. The highest-paying industries for this profession are petroleum and coal products, in which compensation is $40.96 or $85,200, computer manufacturing, in which compensation is $39.90 or $82,990, the federal government, in which compensation is $38.12 or $79,280, oil and gas extraction, in which compensation is $38.06 or $79,170, and natural gas distribution, in which compensation is $37.67 or $78,360.
States
The state in which a job is located dictates wages. This job's highest-paying states are District of Columbia, with pay of $44.69 or $92,940, Maryland, with pay of $34.01 or $70,730, Virginia, with pay of $33.36 or $69,390, California, with pay of $33.23 or $69,130, and New Jersey, with pay of $32.81 or $68,240.
Cities
The city in which a job is located can decide compensation. Three of the highest-paying cities for this profession are in California: Vallejo, with wages of $41.82 or $86,980, San Francisco, with wages of $40.52 or $84,290, and San Jose, with wages of $38.33 or $79,720. Rounding out the list are Washington, DC, with wages of $40.45 or $84,140, and Boulder, Colorado, with wages of $38.25 or $79,560.
Employment Levels
The areas with the greatest employment numbers do not always have the highest pay. For example, the industries with the most jobs are business, professional, labor, political and similar organizations, with wages of $23.24 or $48,340. It is not a high payer. However, the federal government is ranked No. 2 for employment and is also one of the top five for salaries. For states, the District of Columbia offers the highest employment concentration and the best pay. However, No. 2 is Ohio, which is not in the top five for income. Finally, the cities with the highest concentration of HR generalists are Olympia, Washington, with compensation at $26.15 or $54,400, and Wausau, Wisconsin, with compensation at $14.53 or $30,210. None of these are in the top five for pay.
