What the numbers say
Minnesota's median wage for Human Resources Specialists came in at $77,250 in 2024, about 8.6% above the national median of $71,137. The average was higher still at $82,260, pulled up by a smaller group of senior specialists and HR managers at the top of the range.
The spread from bottom to top is wide. At the 10th percentile, pay starts around $49,490. At the 90th, it reaches $125,260. That is a gap of roughly $75,800 between early-career generalists and experienced specialists in higher-paying industries or leadership tracks. The middle half of earners sits between $61,180 and $99,700, which suggests a long runway for salary growth once someone clears the entry-level years.
Minnesota's cost of living runs slightly below the national baseline. Our cost-of-living index for the state is 96.9, meaning the $77,250 median stretches a bit further here than the same paycheck would in a state at 100 or above. After adjusting, the real purchasing value of that median is closer to $79,700 in national-baseline terms, widening the effective gap over the US figure by another percentage point or two.
BLS projects employment for Human Resources Specialists to grow 6.2% between 2024 and 2034, a pace BLS classifies as faster than average. Minnesota's base of roughly 16,850 employed specialists gives that growth rate a meaningful floor to build from.
Salary distribution
Where Minnesota 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 $61,180 and $99,700, with a median of $77,250.
Human Resources Specialists in Minnesota: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 6 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $67,750. 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 | 2 | $57,200 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $74,117 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Human Resources Specialists in Minnesota. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assured Wellness LLC | Human Resources Specialist | 1 | $67,600 |
| 24-Seven Home Care Inc | Human Resources Specialist | 1 | $67,900 |
| Child Care Choices, Inc | DEI Coordinator | 1 | $58,240 |
| Achieve Twin Cities | People & Culture Generalist | 1 | $80,335 |
| Anaplan, Inc. | Senior Compensation Manager | 1 | $143,750 |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Human Resources Representative | 1 | $56,160 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Human Resources Specialist at Assured Wellness LLC$67,600St. PaulWage Level IIDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-052248
- Human Resources Specialist at 24-Seven Home Care Inc$67,900Brooklyn ParkWage Level IIDecided Apr 30, 2025I-200-25113-896041
- DEI Coordinator at Child Care Choices, Inc$58,240Waite ParkWage Level IDecided Mar 21, 2025I-200-25073-776216
- People & Culture Generalist at Achieve Twin Cities$80,335MinneapolisWage Level IIDecided Mar 11, 2025I-200-25063-742842
- Senior Compensation Manager at Anaplan, Inc.$143,750MinneapolisWage Level IIDecided Feb 27, 2025I-200-25051-712414
- Human Resources Representative at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota$56,160WinonaWage Level IDecided Oct 29, 2024I-200-24296-424401
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 Minnesota
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 Minnesota, by industry
Median offered wage across 6 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $67,600.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Assured Wellness LLC | 3 | $67,600 |
| Education | Achieve Twin Cities | 2 | $68,247 |
| Technology and software | Anaplan, Inc. | 1 | $143,750 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Minnesota 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 Minnesota metropolitan areas.
- Minneapolis$78,960
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Human Resources Specialists in Minnesota?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists in Minnesota is $77,250.
- How does Minnesota compare to the national median for Human Resources Specialists?
- The Minnesota median is +8.6% versus the BLS national figure of $71,137.
- What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists in Minnesota?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $49,490 and the 90th-percentile at $125,260, 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.