What the numbers say
Virginia's median wage for Human Resources Specialists was $78,580 in 2024, about 10.5% above the US median of $71,137. The mean came in higher at $86,260, which means a portion of senior specialists and HR managers in the state pull the average up from the middle.
The spread across the pay range is wide. The bottom 10% earned around $47,040, while the top 10% reached $133,680. That gap reflects how differently this occupation pays depending on experience, specialization, and the type of employer. A generalist at a mid-size firm sits in a different bracket than a compensation analyst at a federal contractor in the DC suburbs.
Virginia's cost-of-living index sits at 102.3, just above the national baseline of 100. That is close enough to neutral that the nominal wage advantage of roughly $7,400 over the national median carries over in real terms with minimal adjustment. The state is not cheap, but it is not inflating away the premium the way a higher-index state would.
BLS projects employment for Human Resources Specialists to grow 6.2% between 2024 and 2034, an outlook it categorizes as faster than average. Virginia's concentration of large government agencies, defense contractors, and technology firms gives this occupation a steady hiring floor that broader national figures do not fully capture.
Salary distribution
Where Virginia 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 $60,310 and $104,700, with a median of $78,580.
Human Resources Specialists in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 36 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $78,150. 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 | 7 | $58,926 |
| Level II — qualified | 23 | $78,150 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $98,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Human Resources Specialists in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS Software Solutions, LLC | Technical Recruiter | 4 | $78,146 |
| Olympus Corporation of the Americas | Workforce Planning Analyst | 2 | $86,070 |
| Velocity Data Solutions LLC | Technical Recruiter | 2 | $78,200 |
| High Sierra Pools, Inc | HR Specialist U.S. Recruitment and Talent Programs) | 2 | $78,208 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Sourcing Recruiter II | 2 | $104,250 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Data and Reporting Analyst | 1 | $53,219 |
| Navitas Business Consulting Inc. | Senior Human Resources Manager | 1 | $121,430 |
| SZOOOM LLC | Human Resources Specialist | 1 | $62,483 |
| Tech Wish, LLC | HR Specialist | 1 | $63,000 |
| CLOUD PPH INC | Sr. Technical Recruiter | 1 | $101,774 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Data and Reporting Analyst at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$53,219BlacksburgDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-467681
- Senior Human Resources Manager at Navitas Business Consulting Inc.$121,430HerndonDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25336-448604
- Workforce Planning Analyst at Olympus Corporation of the Americas$82,139McLeanDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-377170
- Human Resources Specialist at SZOOOM LLC$62,483AshburnWage Level IDecided Aug 7, 2025I-200-25212-212773
- HR Specialist at Tech Wish, LLC$63,000SterlingWage Level IDecided Jul 15, 2025I-200-25189-159514
- Sr. Technical Recruiter at CLOUD PPH INC$101,774MCLEANWage Level IIIDecided Jul 10, 2025I-200-25183-148991
- Technical Recruiter at ORPRIZE LLC$78,200HERNDONWage Level IIDecided Jun 27, 2025I-200-25171-115855
- Technical Recruiter at Accentuate IT Solutions LLC$78,146HerndonWage Level IIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25170-112680
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 Virginia
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 Virginia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 20 certified offers. The most common variant is Technical Recruiter at a median of $78,146.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Recruiter | SS Software Solutions, LLC | 13 | $78,146 |
| HR Specialist | Tech Wish, LLC | 4 | $101,973 |
| Human Resources Specialist | SZOOOM LLC | 3 | $58,926 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Human Resources Specialists in Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 36 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $78,148.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | SS Software Solutions, LLC | 24 | $78,148 |
| Professional services | Olympus Corporation of the Americas | 5 | $78,208 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 3 | $125,800 |
| Education | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 2 | $56,073 |
| Healthcare | CN Internal Medicine MD PC | 1 | $58,926 |
| Media and entertainment | Deep Blue Aquatics Inc. | 1 | $70,720 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia 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 Virginia
Metro-level salary data for human resources specialists in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Richmond$74,990
- Virginia Beach$73,570
Compare Human Resources Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Human Resources Specialists in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists in Virginia is $78,580.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Human Resources Specialists?
- The Virginia median is +10.5% versus the BLS national figure of $71,137.
- What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $47,040 and the 90th-percentile at $133,680, 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.