Human Resources Managers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California human resources managers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $129,210 and $224,990, with a median of $170,080.
Human Resources Managers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 96 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $184,874. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 25 | $133,266 |
| Level II — qualified | 27 | $180,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 15 | $214,198 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 16 | $249,717 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Human Resources Managers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Inc. | Dir, Talent Acquisition ( 118.797.19) | 5 | $264,040 |
| Google LLC | People Partner | 3 | $240,000 |
| Anthropic, PBC | Partnerships | 2 | $249,599 |
| Autodesk, Inc. | Senior HR Business Partner | 2 | $188,087 |
| Bloomsung Inc. | HR Manager | 2 | $100,000 |
| ByteDance Inc. | HR Business Partner - Global E-Commerce (GNE) | 2 | $165,873 |
| Databricks, Inc. | Staff Recruiter | 2 | $225,888 |
| eBay Inc. | Director, Talent Management | 2 | $235,038 |
| GUMGUM, INC. | VP, People & Culture Business Partner | 2 | $220,000 |
| Intuit Inc. | Principal HR Business Partner | 2 | $226,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Head of Expert Growth at Pareto, Inc.$214,198San FransicoWage Level IIIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-203-26083-726044
- VP, Employee Experience (118.1848.9) at Adobe Inc.$409,000San FranciscoWage Level IVDecided Mar 25, 2026I-203-26077-713372
- Director, People & Culture at Charta Health, Inc.$173,077San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Mar 16, 2026I-200-26069-690784
- Director at Visa U.S.A. Inc.$206,064Foster CityDecided Mar 16, 2026I-200-26068-690470
- Human Resources Director at FW Capital Holdings LLC$110,000Elk GroveWage Level IDecided Mar 12, 2026I-203-26065-684140
- Director, Executive Recruiting at Lucid USA, Inc.$255,299NewarkWage Level IVDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-677695
- Head of HR Transformation at Ares Operations, LLC$183,747Los AngelesWage Level IIIDecided Mar 5, 2026I-200-26057-666531
- Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at PLAUD INC.$168,000San FranciscoWage Level IDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-654120
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Human Resources Managers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Human Resources Managers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 59 certified offers. The most common variant is Director at a median of $213,283.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028 | 15 | $213,283 |
| HR Business Partner | Adobe Inc. | 7 | $221,548 |
| HR Manager | Bloomsung Inc. | 7 | $133,266 |
| VP, People & Culture Business Partner | Adobe Inc. | 7 | $220,000 |
| Sr. Manager, Learning & Development and Employee Comm. | Sees Candies, Inc. | 7 | $160,688 |
| People Partner | Google LLC | 5 | $240,000 |
| Human Resources Manager | Clune Construction Company, LP | 5 | $126,610 |
| Human Resources Director | FW Capital Holdings LLC | 3 | $168,000 |
| People Operations Manager | Exa Labs Inc. | 3 | $126,610 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Human Resources Managers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 92 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $200,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Adobe Inc. | 46 | $200,000 |
| Manufacturing | Lucid USA, Inc. | 12 | $167,544 |
| Professional services | Anthropic, PBC | 11 | $180,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | eBay Inc. | 7 | $192,500 |
| Finance and insurance | Ares Operations, LLC | 5 | $220,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | Bloomsung Inc. | 3 | $100,000 |
| Media and entertainment | Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028 | 2 | $204,568 |
| Healthcare | Homeward Health Inc. | 2 | $209,500 |
| Education | Citizens of the World Charter Schools, Los Angeles | 2 | $131,820 |
| Real estate | Tripalink, Corp. | 1 | $170,000 |
| Energy and utilities | U.S. Borax Inc | 1 | $150,344 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Administration and Management
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Management of Personnel Resources
Technical
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
- 02
Advise managers on organizational policy matters, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes.
- 03
Analyze and modify compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
- 04
Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
- 05
Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
- 06
Identify staff vacancies and recruit, interview, and select applicants.
- 07
Negotiate bargaining agreements and help interpret labor contracts.
- 08
Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for human resources managers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$220,460
- San Francisco$209,340
- Los Angeles$168,400
- San Diego$163,190
- Sacramento$155,360
- Riverside$139,010
Compare Human Resources Managers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Human Resources Managers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Human Resources Managers in California is $170,080.
- How does California compare to the national median for Human Resources Managers?
- The California median is +13.8% versus the BLS national figure of $149,469.
- What is the salary range for Human Resources Managers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $96,430 and the 90th-percentile at $307,600, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Human Resources Managers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Human Resources Managers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.