Human Resources Specialists Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $79,120 +8.5% vs national
Median hourly $38.04
10th percentile $51,380
90th percentile $127,580
Employed locally 2,510
National median $72,910

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Human Resources Specialists
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,380
    25th
    $62,820
    50th (median)
    $79,120
    75th
    $100,500
    90th
    $127,580

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Human Resources Specialists salary vs area income 98% Median Human Resources Specialists salary is 2% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Human Resources Specialists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $114,080
    District of Columbia $102,500
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $100,600
    Lexington Park, MD $97,490
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $97,340
    Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $89,860

    Nearby metros — Human Resources Specialists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $100,600
    Lawrence, KS $79,950
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $77,860
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $77,050
    Winchester, VA-WV $77,040
    Fayetteville, NC $75,690

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Business Operations Specialists, All Other $81,210
    Project Management Specialists $110,000
    Accountants and Auditors $83,990
    Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $92,110
    Personal Financial Advisors $61,530
    Training and Development Specialists $69,750

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Human Resources Specialists make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Human Resources Specialists in Durham, NC is $38.04, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $64.16 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Human Resources Specialists salaries?

    The median Human Resources Specialists salary in Durham, NC is 8.5% above the national median of $72,910. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Human Resources Specialists in Durham?

    Entry-level Human Resources Specialists (10th percentile) earn around $51,380 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $62,820.