What the numbers say
Maryland's median HR Specialist earned $81,140 in 2024, about 14% above the national median of $71,137. The mean wage came in higher at $90,080, which tells us a smaller group of senior specialists and HR managers pull the average up.
The gap between the lowest and highest earners is wide. The 10th-percentile wage was $50,970, while the 90th-percentile reached $139,380. Someone at the top of the range earns roughly 2.7 times what someone near the bottom does. That kind of spread is common in a field where pay depends heavily on how senior someone is and what sector they work in.
Maryland's cost-of-living index sits at 109.2, about 9% above the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the median wage lands closer to $74,300 in national-baseline dollars. That still clears the US median, but by a narrower margin than the headline figure suggests.
BLS projects employment for HR Specialists to grow 6.2% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Maryland's concentration of federal agencies, government contractors, and large health systems gives the state a steady base of employers that hire in this occupation year after year.
Salary distribution
Where Maryland 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 $62,520 and $109,170, with a median of $81,140.
Human Resources Specialists in Maryland: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 14 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $74,786. 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 | 6 | $61,001 |
| Level II — qualified | 8 | $80,955 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Human Resources Specialists in Maryland. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jecho Laboratories, Inc. | HR Generalist | 2 | $89,774 |
| ECCLESIASTES, INC. | TECHNICAL GLOBAL MOBILITY MANAGER | 1 | $71,427 |
| Maakay Group, LLC | Human Resources Specialist | 1 | $78,146 |
| B4U UPPER MARLBORO INC. | HR SPECIALIST | 1 | $58,926 |
| Sparksoft Corporation | Human Resource Specialist | 1 | $61,000 |
| N5 Sensors, Inc. | Head of Operations | 1 | $80,000 |
| Bisonte Industrial USA LLC | Human Resources Coordinator | 1 | $55,000 |
| Crestview Montessori LLC | Human Resources Specialist | 1 | $62,400 |
| Alfredhouse Eldercare, Inc. | Human Resources Manager | 1 | $78,146 |
| Bowie State University | Senior Human Resources Associate I | 1 | $64,898 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- TECHNICAL GLOBAL MOBILITY MANAGER at ECCLESIASTES, INC.$71,427OWINGS MILLSWage Level IIDecided Sep 2, 2025I-200-25237-264479
- Human Resources Specialist at Maakay Group, LLC$78,146LaurelWage Level IIDecided Jul 3, 2025I-200-25177-130411
- HR SPECIALIST at B4U UPPER MARLBORO INC.$58,926Upper MarlboroWage Level IDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25169-106051
- Human Resource Specialist at Sparksoft Corporation$61,000ColumbiaWage Level IDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-035218
- Head of Operations at N5 Sensors, Inc.$80,000RockvilleWage Level IIDecided May 15, 2025I-200-25128-954595
- Human Resources Coordinator at Bisonte Industrial USA LLC$55,000BaltimoreWage Level IDecided May 5, 2025I-200-25118-911032
- Human Resources Specialist at Crestview Montessori LLC$62,400BethesdaWage Level IDecided Apr 22, 2025I-200-25105-863921
- HR Generalist at Jecho Laboratories, Inc.$89,774FrederickWage Level IIDecided Mar 28, 2025I-200-25080-794155
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 Maryland
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 Maryland, by industry
Median offered wage across 14 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $89,774.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Jecho Laboratories, Inc. | 4 | $89,774 |
| Technology and software | ECCLESIASTES, INC. | 3 | $71,427 |
| Retail and wholesale | B4U UPPER MARLBORO INC. | 2 | $56,963 |
| Education | Crestview Montessori LLC | 2 | $63,649 |
| Healthcare | Alfredhouse Eldercare, Inc. | 2 | $69,573 |
| Manufacturing | N5 Sensors, Inc. | 1 | $80,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Maryland 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 Maryland metropolitan areas.
- Baltimore$80,030
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Human Resources Specialists in Maryland?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists in Maryland is $81,140.
- How does Maryland compare to the national median for Human Resources Specialists?
- The Maryland median is +14.1% versus the BLS national figure of $71,137.
- What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists in Maryland?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $50,970 and the 90th-percentile at $139,380, 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.