What the numbers say
The median Human Resources Specialist in Tennessee earned $65,200 in 2024, about 8% below the US median of $71,137. That gap narrows once you account for the state's cost of living. Tennessee's overall price level runs roughly 7.5% below the national average, which means the nominal gap almost disappears in real terms. What the money buys here is close to the national figure.
The spread between low and high earners is wide. The bottom 10% of HR Specialists in Tennessee earned around $43,200, while the top 10% reached $115,350. Top earners make roughly 2.7 times what entry-level peers take home. That range reflects how much role and seniority matter in this field: a generalist handling onboarding at a regional employer sits in a very different pay bracket than a senior specialist managing benefits and compliance at a larger company.
The mean annual wage of $73,120 runs above the median, which tells us a smaller group of higher-earning specialists pulls the average up. For most people in this occupation, the median is the more representative number.
BLS projects employment for Human Resources Specialists to grow 6.2% between 2024 and 2034, an outlook BLS classifies as faster than average. Tennessee employs about 20,490 HR Specialists statewide, a base large enough that even moderate growth translates to a steady volume of openings over the coming decade.
Salary distribution
Where Tennessee 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 $52,160 and $85,210, with a median of $65,200.
Human Resources Specialists in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 11 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $62,400. 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 II — qualified | 4 | $58,080 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $62,400 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $103,850 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Human Resources Specialists in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYTE WAVE TECHNOLOGIES INC | HR EXECUTIVE | 3 | $56,160 |
| Worldwise Plastics LLC | HR and Payroll Specialist | 2 | $62,400 |
| SERVEONE America Inc. | HR Generalist | 1 | $72,000 |
| Cummins Inc. | Talent Development Design and Capability Manager | 1 | $103,200 |
| 6510 RINGGOLD RD CORP | HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALST | 1 | $51,334 |
| ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | Sr Academic Recruiter | 1 | $72,259 |
| AutoZone, Inc. | Sr. Corporate IT Recruiter | 1 | $104,499 |
| UT Medical Group, Inc. | Talent Acquisition Representative | 1 | $57,990 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- HR EXECUTIVE at BYTE WAVE TECHNOLOGIES INC$47,840KNOXVILLEDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-389229
- HR Generalist at SERVEONE America Inc.$72,000LebanonDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-362308
- Talent Development Design and Capability Manager at Cummins Inc.$103,200NashvilleWage Level IVDecided Sep 8, 2025I-200-25241-275305
- HR and Payroll Specialist at Worldwise Plastics LLC$62,400LewisburgWage Level IIIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25170-112333
- HR and Payroll Specialist at Worldwise Plastics LLC$62,400LewisburgWage Level IIIDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25139-988929
- HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALST at 6510 RINGGOLD RD CORP$51,334CHATTANOOGAWage Level IIDecided Apr 4, 2025I-200-25087-812837
- Sr Academic Recruiter at ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL$72,259MemphisWage Level IIDecided Mar 3, 2025I-200-25055-719781
- Sr. Corporate IT Recruiter at AutoZone, Inc.$104,499MemphisWage Level IVDecided Feb 7, 2025I-200-25033-659874
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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee, by industry
Median offered wage across 10 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $56,160.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | BYTE WAVE TECHNOLOGIES INC | 3 | $56,160 |
| Manufacturing | Worldwise Plastics LLC | 3 | $62,400 |
| Healthcare | ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | 2 | $65,125 |
| Professional services | SERVEONE America Inc. | 1 | $72,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | AutoZone, Inc. | 1 | $104,499 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Human Resources Specialists in Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists in Tennessee is $65,200.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Human Resources Specialists?
- The Tennessee median is -8.3% versus the BLS national figure of $71,137.
- What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $43,200 and the 90th-percentile at $115,350, 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.