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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.
Human Resources Assistant salaries in 2026 span a wider range than most people realize. The weighted national median is $53,539, but geography reshapes that number dramatically. In Sunnyvale, the median is $97,520. We analyzed BLS-sourced salary distributions across 288 U.S. cities and 46 states to map the complete compensation landscape.
Human Resources Assistant falls within the Administrative sector, specifically in Office & Admin. The typical education path involves Associate's or bachelor's. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is hybrid — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$59,340 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Human Resources Assistant in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $97,520 — $59,340 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($38,180). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. The gap between P10 and P90 shows the earning ceiling is high.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Human Resources Assistants average $38,548, the median sits at $53,539, and senior earners pull in $76,025. That $37,477 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $26,828 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
But raw salary is only half the story. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $91,080 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $38,487. That $52,593 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Human Resources Assistant in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $97,520 — $59,340 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($38,180). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $38,548 | $53,539 | $76,025 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £21,188 | £29,427 | £41,787 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$31,019 | CA$43,081 | CA$61,176 |
| Australia | 13 | A$33,973 | A$47,185 | A$67,003 |
| Sweden | 24 | 218,754 kr | 303,825 kr | 431,431 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $46,525 | $64,619 | $91,759 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $44,961 | $62,445 | $88,672 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $44,712 | $62,100 | $88,182 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $41,400 | $57,500 | $81,650 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $40,903 | $56,810 | $80,670 |
| Washington | 8 | $40,117 | $55,718 | $79,119 |
| New York | 5 | $37,757 | $52,440 | $74,465 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $37,757 | $52,440 | $74,465 |
| Florida | 22 | $37,471 | $52,043 | $73,901 |
| Colorado | 11 | $36,823 | $51,144 | $72,624 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $36,763 | $51,060 | $72,505 |
| Nevada | 5 | $36,697 | $50,968 | $72,375 |
| Arizona | 12 | $36,515 | $50,715 | $72,015 |
| Oregon | 5 | $36,432 | $50,600 | $71,852 |
| Idaho | 3 | $36,322 | $50,447 | $71,634 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $36,035 | $50,048 | $71,068 |
| Utah | 4 | $35,935 | $49,910 | $70,872 |
| Virginia | 7 | $35,344 | $49,089 | $69,706 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $34,886 | $48,453 | $68,804 |
| Alaska | 1 | $34,776 | $48,300 | $68,586 |
| Illinois | 5 | $34,378 | $47,748 | $67,802 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $33,525 | $46,562 | $66,118 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $33,120 | $46,000 | $65,320 |
| Montana | 1 | $33,120 | $46,000 | $65,320 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $33,010 | $45,847 | $65,102 |
| Texas | 40 | $32,847 | $45,621 | $64,781 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $32,789 | $45,540 | $64,667 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $32,623 | $45,310 | $64,340 |
| Georgia | 6 | $32,513 | $45,157 | $64,123 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $32,458 | $45,080 | $64,014 |
| Kansas | 4 | $32,292 | $44,850 | $63,687 |
| Michigan | 6 | $32,182 | $44,697 | $63,470 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $31,796 | $44,160 | $62,708 |
| Maryland | 1 | $31,795 | $44,160 | $62,707 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $31,464 | $43,700 | $62,054 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $31,464 | $43,700 | $62,054 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $30,636 | $42,550 | $60,421 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $30,470 | $42,320 | $60,094 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $30,056 | $41,745 | $59,278 |
| Missouri | 4 | $30,057 | $41,745 | $59,278 |
| Alabama | 5 | $29,941 | $41,584 | $59,049 |
| Indiana | 3 | $29,477 | $40,940 | $58,135 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $29,477 | $40,940 | $58,135 |
| Iowa | 2 | $29,146 | $40,480 | $57,482 |
| Ohio | 6 | $29,091 | $40,403 | $57,373 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $27,821 | $38,640 | $54,869 |
The state salary map for Human Resources Assistants: California at $64,619, Massachusetts at $62,445, Hawaii at $62,100 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($38,640), Ohio ($40,403), Iowa ($40,480) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $25,979.
Raw salary rankings and cost-adjusted rankings tell different stories. After adjusting for local costs, Sunnyvale ($46,000 adjusted), Santa Clara ($46,000 adjusted), Irvine ($46,000 adjusted) lead the field. The takeaway: the highest nominal salary doesn't always deliver the best standard of living. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
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 | Sunnyvale California | $97,520 | 212 | $46,000 | $60,582 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $91,080 | 198 | $46,000 | $56,908 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $84,640 | 184 | $46,000 | $53,234 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $83,260 | 181 | $46,000 | $52,447 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $81,880 | 178 | $46,000 | $51,660 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $81,420 | 177 | $46,000 | $51,397 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $81,420 | 177 | $46,000 | $51,397 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $79,580 | 173 | $46,000 | $50,347 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $79,580 | 173 | $46,000 | $50,347 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $77,740 | 169 | $46,000 | $49,298 |
Career economics for Human Resources Assistants: entry level averages $38,548, mid-career hits $53,539, and experienced professionals reach $76,025. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Associate's or bachelor's, and the work is hybrid. The outlook: steady. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The weighted national median salary for Human Resources Assistants is $53,539 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $38,548, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $76,025.
The highest-paying city for Human Resources Assistants is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $97,520. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($97,520), Santa Clara ($91,080), Irvine ($84,640). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Human Resources Assistant salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $38,180. 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 Human Resources Assistants (10th percentile) average $38,548 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $70,214. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Human Resources Assistants average $76,025 nationally — $37,477 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Human Resources Assistants can earn up to $138,478.
The top-paying states for Human Resources Assistants are California ($64,619 median), Massachusetts ($62,445 median), Hawaii ($62,100 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Human Resources Assistant involves Associate's or bachelor's. The field is in the Administrative sector (Office & Admin), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $53,539 and representation across 288 metro areas, Human Resources Assistant offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $37,477 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
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.