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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The pay gap between states for this occupation? It can fund an entire year of rent. The national median salary for HR Managers in 2026 is $145,334, with entry-level positions averaging $104,640 and senior roles reaching $206,374. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $270,518, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
HR Manager falls within the Leadership & Operations sector, specifically in Management. The typical education path involves Bachelor's degree. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hybrid/remote — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$157,757 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A HR Manager in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $270,518 — $157,757 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($112,761). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. This pay range tells a story about demand — and it's a good one for job seekers.
The three-tier salary picture for HR Managers in 2026: $104,640 at entry (P10), $145,334 at midpoint, and $206,374 at the senior end (P90). Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The $101,734 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $64,967 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) averages $256,065, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) averages $115,534. The $140,531 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A HR Manager in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $270,518 — $157,757 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($112,761). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for HR Manager is $104,640, while senior-level (P90) earners average $206,374. That $101,734 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for HR Managers at $184,618 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $151,621) is $32,997.
At the 90th percentile, HR Managers pull in an average of $206,374. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $104,640 | $145,334 | $206,374 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £63,144 | £87,700 | £124,534 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$84,673 | CA$117,601 | CA$166,994 |
| Australia | 13 | A$101,345 | A$140,757 | A$199,876 |
| Sweden | 24 | 578,332 kr | 803,239 kr | 1,140,600 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $132,925 | $184,618 | $262,158 |
| California | 61 | $119,429 | $165,873 | $235,540 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $115,131 | $159,905 | $227,064 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $112,113 | $155,712 | $221,111 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $109,167 | $151,621 | $215,302 |
| Washington | 8 | $106,983 | $148,587 | $210,994 |
| Oregon | 5 | $105,790 | $146,931 | $208,641 |
| Colorado | 11 | $105,232 | $146,155 | $207,540 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $105,175 | $146,076 | $207,428 |
| New York | 5 | $104,671 | $145,376 | $206,434 |
| Illinois | 5 | $104,435 | $145,049 | $205,970 |
| Nevada | 5 | $103,238 | $143,386 | $203,608 |
| Virginia | 7 | $103,179 | $143,304 | $203,491 |
| Idaho | 3 | $103,179 | $143,304 | $203,492 |
| Utah | 4 | $102,320 | $142,111 | $201,797 |
| Florida | 22 | $102,224 | $141,978 | $201,608 |
| Arizona | 12 | $102,123 | $141,838 | $201,410 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $102,001 | $141,668 | $201,168 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $100,823 | $140,032 | $198,845 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $100,136 | $139,077 | $197,489 |
| Michigan | 6 | $100,021 | $138,918 | $197,264 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $99,972 | $138,850 | $197,167 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $99,762 | $138,559 | $196,753 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $98,172 | $136,350 | $193,617 |
| Alaska | 1 | $98,172 | $136,350 | $193,617 |
| Iowa | 2 | $98,172 | $136,350 | $193,617 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $98,172 | $136,350 | $193,617 |
| Montana | 1 | $98,172 | $136,350 | $193,617 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $96,830 | $134,487 | $190,971 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $96,700 | $134,305 | $190,713 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $96,688 | $134,290 | $190,691 |
| Texas | 40 | $96,557 | $134,107 | $190,432 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $96,233 | $133,657 | $189,793 |
| Georgia | 6 | $95,963 | $133,282 | $189,261 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $95,841 | $133,112 | $189,019 |
| Indiana | 3 | $95,587 | $132,759 | $188,518 |
| Alabama | 5 | $94,520 | $131,278 | $186,415 |
| Ohio | 6 | $94,311 | $130,987 | $186,001 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $94,246 | $130,896 | $185,873 |
| Maryland | 1 | $94,147 | $130,760 | $185,679 |
| Missouri | 4 | $94,074 | $130,658 | $185,534 |
| Kansas | 4 | $93,853 | $130,351 | $185,098 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $93,460 | $129,805 | $184,323 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $92,969 | $129,124 | $183,356 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $86,980 | $120,806 | $171,545 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $82,956 | $115,216 | $163,607 |
At the state level, Hawaii leads with an average HR Manager median of $184,618 across 1 cities, followed by California ($165,873) and Massachusetts ($159,905). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska — offer medians between $115,216 and $129,124. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($270,518 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $136,625 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $199,753 | 146 | $136,817 | $116,297 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $270,518 | 198 | $136,625 | $148,788 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $206,298 | 151 | $136,621 | $128,248 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $230,841 | 169 | $136,592 | $130,924 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $241,749 | 177 | $136,581 | $136,056 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $251,293 | 184 | $136,572 | $140,320 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $230,704 | 169 | $136,511 | $161,543 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $219,387 | 161 | $136,265 | $125,535 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $200,298 | 147 | $136,257 | $116,554 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $198,935 | 146 | $136,257 | $115,912 |
From a career planning perspective, HR Manager offers a $101,734 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's degree. Day-to-day, expect hybrid/remote work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for HR Managers is $145,334 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $104,640, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $206,374.
The highest-paying city for HR Managers is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $270,518. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($270,518), Irvine ($251,293), San Francisco ($246,384). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median HR Manager salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $112,761. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level HR Managers (10th percentile) average $104,640 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $194,773. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), HR Managers average $206,374 nationally — $101,734 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior HR Managers can earn up to $384,136.
The top-paying states for HR Managers are Hawaii ($184,618 median), California ($165,873 median), Massachusetts ($159,905 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a HR Manager involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Leadership & Operations sector (Management), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $145,334 and representation across 288 metro areas, HR Manager offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $101,734 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.