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According to data from Indeed, the average HR manager salary in the U.S. is $80,864 annually. Depending on location and seniority, this ranges from $55,258-$118,335.

In Canada, the average salary is $81,979 CAD (~USD 60,000).

In the UK, the average salary is £42,812 (~USD 53,500).

We'll now take a look at how HR manager salaries vary by seniority, factors that determine salary, and what an HR manager does.

HR Manager Salaries By Seniority

Normally, job titles correspond with years of experience, but that’s not always the case, so we’ve split them out here.

Senior HR Manager Salary

According to data from Salary.com, the average senior HR Manager salary in the U.S. is $102,059, ranging from $79,837-$126,578.

In Canada, the average senior HR manager salary is $116,000 CAD (~ USD 85,000).

In the UK, the average senior HR manager salary is £79,000 (~USD 99,000).

Stay up-to-date on all things HR & leadership.

Stay up-to-date on all things HR & leadership.

HR Director Salary

According to data from Salary.com, the average HR director salary in the U.S. is $179,546 ranging from $158,488-$202,438.

In Canada, the average senior HR director salary is $156,000 CAD (~ USD 114,000).

In the UK, the average senior HR director salary is £121,000 (~USD 151,00).

Vice President of HR

According to data from Salary.com, the average VP of HR salary in the US is $273,000 with a salary range between $235,000 and $323,000.

Continue reading to discover what factors impact HR manager salaries and how you could potentially earn more.

In Canada, the average VP HR salary is $283,000 CAD (~ USD 206,500).

In the UK, the average VP HR salary is £121,000 (~USD 219,000).

Factors Affecting Human Resources Manager Salary

Several factors impact individual HR manager salaries including location, skills and experience, specialization, and HR certifications.

Location

One of the main factors affecting HR manager salary is location. In general, people receive higher salaries in the USA than in Canada or the UK. 

This trend continues within the USA, with bigger cities with a higher cost of living like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles generally paying higher salaries.

Years of experience

Like with most professions, years of experience factor strongly in the remuneration package. 

For example, an HR manager with less than a year of experience will earn less than someone with over 6 years of experience.

Salaries by years of experience in the U.S. Source: Indeed.

Specialization

An HR manager specializing in a specific area such as succession planning, recruitment, or organizational design can potentially earn a higher salary.

Critical HR Skills that pay well. Source: Indeed.

Industry

According to data from career site Glassdoor, the top-paying industry for HR professionals is pharmaceutical and biotechnology.

Source: Glassdoor.

Certifications

A fourth factor that can affect an individual’s HR manager salary is whether they have any certifications. There are a few ways to become certified as an HR manager.

Many schools and colleges offer bachelor's degrees and diplomas in HR management. Many accredited institutions offer shorter certificate programs and many HR organizations offer their own certification programs.

For more on this, check out our pick of the 20 Best HR Certification Courses.

What Does An HR Manager Do?

Like an HR Generalist, an HR Manager is typically involved across the HR department and organization.

Responsibilities will include:

The difference between an HR manager and an HR generalist is that an HR manager will have more leadership responsibilities and will be more involved in the strategic planning of the organization.

This could mean handling everything in-house or working with employer of record companies or professional employer organizations.

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The People Managing People Community is a supportive community of HR leaders sharing knowledge and expertise to help you progress in your career and make a greater impact in your organization. 

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By Finn Bartram

Finn is an editor at People Managing People. He's passionate about growing organizations where people are empowered to continuously improve and genuinely enjoy coming to work. If not at his desk, you can find him playing sports or enjoying the great outdoors.