What the numbers say
Human Resources Specialists in Massachusetts earned a median annual wage of $81,960 in 2024, about 15% above the national median of $71,137. The mean came in higher at $92,230, which tells us a smaller group of senior specialists pull the average up.
The range across the field is wide. The bottom 10% earned around $51,980; the top 10% reached $140,550. That gap reflects real differences in role scope, from early-career recruiters handling high-volume hiring to senior specialists managing compensation programs or labor relations for large employers. Where someone lands in that range depends heavily on industry, company size, and years in the role.
Massachusetts has a cost-of-living index of 109.6 against the national baseline of 100. After adjusting for that, the $10,823 nominal premium over the national median shrinks to something closer to $2,000 in real purchasing terms. The headline gap is real, but thinner than the raw figures suggest.
BLS projects employment for HR Specialists to grow 6.2% nationally between 2024 and 2034, a pace categorized as faster than average. The Massachusetts data does not include a separate state-level projection, so the national figure is the closest reference point available.
Salary distribution
Where Massachusetts 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 $63,570 and $109,130, with a median of $81,960.
Human Resources Specialists in Massachusetts: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 28 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $70,000. 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 | 10 | $57,955 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $70,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $100,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $150,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Human Resources Specialists in Massachusetts. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ionic Partners, LLC | Executive Recruiter | 2 | $100,000 |
| eteraflexconnects, LLC | HR Generalist | 2 | $69,747 |
| Bath Knot, Inc. | HR Specialist | 2 | $100,006 |
| North Suffolk Community Services, Inc. | DEI Coordinator | 1 | $63,523 |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | Sr HR Analyst | 1 | $112,195 |
| HJZ BOSTON LLC | Human Resources Specialist | 1 | $71,000 |
| Cherry Technologies, Inc. | Recruiter | 1 | $88,000 |
| PRIMARK US CORP. | Rewards Analyst | 1 | $75,712 |
| Weiss Asset Management LP | Compensation, Benefits, and People Operations Analyst | 1 | $85,000 |
| BL Healthcare, Inc | Senior HR Specialist | 1 | $69,500 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- DEI Coordinator at North Suffolk Community Services, Inc.$63,523ChelseaDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-457694
- Sr HR Analyst at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.$112,195ArlingtonDecided Nov 21, 2025I-200-25318-408286
- Human Resources Specialist at HJZ BOSTON LLC$71,000AllstonWage Level IDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-281854
- Recruiter at Cherry Technologies, Inc.$88,000WatertownWage Level IDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25178-136427
- Rewards Analyst at PRIMARK US CORP.$75,712BostonWage Level IIDecided Jul 3, 2025I-200-25177-130385
- Compensation, Benefits, and People Operations Analyst at Weiss Asset Management LP$85,000BostonWage Level IIDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-092709
- Senior HR Specialist at BL Healthcare, Inc$69,500FranklinWage Level IIDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-089012
- Human Resources Specialist at Bay Contracting, Inc.$55,910WalthamWage Level IDecided Jun 16, 2025I-200-25160-068318
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 Massachusetts
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 specialties in Massachusetts
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 12 certified offers. The most common variant is Human Resources Specialist at a median of $55,910.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Specialist | HJZ BOSTON LLC | 5 | $55,910 |
| HR Specialist | Bath Knot, Inc. | 4 | $84,753 |
| HR Generalist | eteraflexconnects, LLC | 3 | $69,493 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Human Resources Specialists in Massachusetts, by industry
Median offered wage across 25 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $69,747.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 10 | $69,747 |
| Finance and insurance | Ionic Partners, LLC | 4 | $94,000 |
| Technology and software | eteraflexconnects, LLC | 4 | $69,750 |
| Healthcare | North Suffolk Community Services, Inc. | 3 | $63,523 |
| Retail and wholesale | Bath Knot, Inc. | 3 | $100,006 |
| Education | Knovva Academy Inc. | 1 | $52,478 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts metropolitan areas.
- Boston$83,930
Compare Human Resources Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Human Resources Specialists in Massachusetts?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists in Massachusetts is $81,960.
- How does Massachusetts compare to the national median for Human Resources Specialists?
- The Massachusetts median is +15.2% versus the BLS national figure of $71,137.
- What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists in Massachusetts?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $51,980 and the 90th-percentile at $140,550, 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.