What the numbers say
Ohio's median wage for Human Resources Specialists was $64,600 in 2024, about 9% below the national median of $71,137. That gap is real, but it overstates the difference once you account for what the money actually buys. Ohio's cost-of-living index sits at 90.6, meaning prices run roughly 10% below the national baseline. In purchasing-power terms, the Ohio median is close to even with the national figure.
The spread across earners is wide. The bottom 10% of HR Specialists in Ohio earned $41,450 in 2024. The top 10% earned $108,780. That is more than 2.5 times as much. The gap reflects real differences in how far someone has moved along the career track: entry-level generalists handling onboarding paperwork sit at the low end, while senior specialists managing compensation programs or labor relations sit near the top.
The mean annual wage of $72,860 runs $8,260 above the median. A smaller group of higher earners pull the average up, so the median is the more useful reference for anyone early in the field.
BLS projects employment for this occupation to grow 6.2% between 2024 and 2034, a rate it classifies as faster than average. Ohio's 34,590 filled positions make it one of the larger state markets for this role, which tends to keep a steady flow of openings as the workforce turns over.
Salary distribution
Where Ohio 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 $50,560 and $85,240, with a median of $64,600.
Human Resources Specialists in Ohio: 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: $62,000. 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 | 2 | $46,601 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $62,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $78,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $90,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Human Resources Specialists in Ohio. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akkodis, Inc. | Recruiter - Enterprise | 3 | $62,000 |
| Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. | Human Resources Development Program - Generalist | 1 | $62,300 |
| Intellipro Group Inc | Account Lead | 1 | $78,000 |
| Fuyao Glass America Inc. | Training Specialist | 1 | $58,500 |
| Cincinnati Asia Market, Inc. | Human Resources Specialist | 1 | $43,202 |
| RIZZK LODGING LLC | HR Specialist III | 1 | $62,962 |
| Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Inc. | Recruiter/Recruitment Specialist | 1 | $50,000 |
| S.I.E. CAPITAL LLC | HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST | 1 | $90,000 |
| Winchester Medical Center | Talent Acquistion Analyst | 1 | $79,435 |
| Designer Brands Inc. | HR Coordinator | 1 | $59,613 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Human Resources Development Program - Generalist at Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc.$62,300HiramWage Level IIDecided Jul 28, 2025I-200-25202-187915
- Account Lead at Intellipro Group Inc$78,000CincinnatiWage Level IIIDecided Jun 9, 2025I-200-25153-043263
- Training Specialist at Fuyao Glass America Inc.$58,500MoraineWage Level IIDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-036125
- Recruiter - Enterprise at Akkodis, Inc.$62,000Lewis CenterWage Level IIDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25140-998451
- Sr. Enterprise Recruiter at Akkodis, Inc.$62,000Lewis CenterWage Level IIDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25141-999496
- Human Resources Specialist at Cincinnati Asia Market, Inc.$43,202CincinnatiWage Level IDecided May 5, 2025I-200-25118-910495
- HR Specialist III at RIZZK LODGING LLC$62,962ZANESVILLEWage Level IIIDecided May 2, 2025I-200-25115-906165
- Recruiter/Recruitment Specialist at Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Inc.$50,000MilfordWage Level IDecided Apr 29, 2025I-200-25112-890359
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 Ohio
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 Ohio, by industry
Median offered wage across 10 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $62,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Akkodis, Inc. | 4 | $62,000 |
| Manufacturing | Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. | 2 | $60,400 |
| Retail and wholesale | Cincinnati Asia Market, Inc. | 2 | $51,407 |
| Technology and software | Intellipro Group Inc | 1 | $78,000 |
| Healthcare | Winchester Medical Center | 1 | $79,435 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Ohio 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Ohio
Metro-level salary data for human resources specialists in major Ohio metropolitan areas.
- Columbus$71,420
- Cincinnati$67,420
- Cleveland$64,530
Compare Human Resources Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Human Resources Specialists in Ohio?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists in Ohio is $64,600.
- How does Ohio compare to the national median for Human Resources Specialists?
- The Ohio median is -9.2% versus the BLS national figure of $71,137.
- What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists in Ohio?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $41,450 and the 90th-percentile at $108,780, 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.