What the numbers say
The median wage for Human Resources Specialists in Colorado was $78,170 in 2024, about 10% above the national median of $71,137. That gap is real, but not enormous. Colorado sits comfortably above the US figure without being an outlier on the level of California or Washington.
The spread within the state tells a more interesting story. The 10th percentile starts at $49,230, and the 90th percentile reaches $135,250. Top earners make roughly 2.7 times what those at the bottom of the range do. That gap reflects how differently the role plays out in practice: an HR coordinator at a regional employer and a senior HR business partner at a large tech or aerospace firm carry the same SOC code but very different pay.
Colorado's cost-of-living index sits at 103, just 3 points above the national baseline. At that level, the nominal premium over the US median holds up almost entirely in real terms. A specialist earning the state median gets slightly less purchasing power than a dollar-for-dollar comparison suggests, but the difference is small enough that the headline gap is not misleading.
BLS projects employment for HR Specialists to grow 6.2% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Colorado's concentration of employers in aerospace, government contracting, and technology tends to keep HR demand steady even when hiring slows in other sectors, though the data here reflects national projections applied to the state, not a Colorado-specific forecast.
Salary distribution
Where Colorado human resources specialists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $60,850 and $103,990, with a median of $78,170.
Human Resources Specialists in Colorado: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 12 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $71,050. 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 | 4 | $56,624 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $71,050 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $89,586 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $107,363 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Human Resources Specialists in Colorado. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biarri USA Inc. | People & Culture Manager | 1 | $120,000 |
| Avenue Realty, Inc. | Human Resources and Administration coordinator | 1 | $52,000 |
| Candid Group, Inc. | Recruiting Operations Specialist | 1 | $106,725 |
| Genesis Corp | Senior Recruiter | 1 | $89,586 |
| Reconstruction Experts, Inc. | Human Resources Administrator | 1 | $60,000 |
| Pure Development, Inc. | Human Resources and Leadership Coordinator | 1 | $70,000 |
| SRI VIGHNESH INC | HR Generalist | 1 | $61,672 |
| Newmont International Services Limited | Senior Recruiter | 1 | $108,000 |
| TWIN CREEKS QUAD SISTERS, INC. | HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST | 1 | $53,248 |
| THE TENDIT GROUP, LLC | Human Resources Generalist | 1 | $65,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- People & Culture Manager at Biarri USA Inc.$120,000DENVERDecided Nov 17, 2025I-203-25311-386475
- Human Resources and Administration coordinator at Avenue Realty, Inc.$52,000VailWage Level IDecided Sep 18, 2025I-203-25254-302834
- Recruiting Operations Specialist at Candid Group, Inc.$106,725DenverWage Level IVDecided Aug 14, 2025I-200-25219-229063
- Senior Recruiter at Genesis Corp$89,586Greenwood VillageWage Level IIIDecided Aug 8, 2025I-200-25213-216155
- Human Resources Administrator at Reconstruction Experts, Inc.$60,000LakewoodWage Level IDecided Jul 8, 2025I-203-25181-143199
- Human Resources and Leadership Coordinator at Pure Development, Inc.$70,000DenverWage Level IIDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-092654
- HR Generalist at SRI VIGHNESH INC$61,672Colorado SpringsWage Level IIDecided Jun 20, 2025I-200-25163-087226
- Senior Recruiter at Newmont International Services Limited$108,000DenverWage Level IVDecided Jun 20, 2025I-200-25163-086641
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.
Human Resources Specialists pay by experience level in Colorado
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 Specialists in Colorado, by industry
Median offered wage across 10 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $106,725.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Biarri USA Inc. | 3 | $106,725 |
| Real estate | Avenue Realty, Inc. | 2 | $61,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | TWIN CREEKS QUAD SISTERS, INC. | 2 | $62,674 |
| Energy and utilities | Newmont International Services Limited | 1 | $108,000 |
| Professional services | THE TENDIT GROUP, LLC | 1 | $65,000 |
| Healthcare | Catholic Health Initiatives Colorado | 1 | $76,253 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Colorado over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Administrative
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
- 02
Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork.
- 03
Administer employee benefit plans.
- 04
Maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- 05
Schedule or administer skill, intelligence, psychological, or drug tests for current or prospective employees.
- 06
Prepare or maintain employment records related to events, such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions, using human resources management system software.
- 07
Address employee relations issues, such as harassment allegations, work complaints, or other employee concerns.
- 08
Conduct reference or background checks on job applicants.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+6.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for human resources specialists in major Colorado metropolitan areas.
- Denver$79,240
Compare Human Resources Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Human Resources Specialists in Colorado?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists in Colorado is $78,170.
- How does Colorado compare to the national median for Human Resources Specialists?
- The Colorado median is +9.9% versus the BLS national figure of $71,137.
- What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists in Colorado?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $49,230 and the 90th-percentile at $135,250, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Human Resources Specialists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 6.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Human Resources Specialists?
- 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.