Human Resources Specialists Salary in Seattle, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Median annual salary $88,050 +20.8% vs national
Median hourly $42.33
10th percentile $59,000
90th percentile $155,550
Employed locally 16,350
National median $72,910

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Human Resources Specialists
in
Seattle, WA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $59,000
    25th
    $70,740
    50th (median)
    $88,050
    75th
    $123,680
    90th
    $155,550

    Seattle economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Human Resources Specialists salary vs area income 78% Median Human Resources Specialists salary is 22% 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
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $97,340
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $86,650
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $84,180
    Washington $83,230
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $83,060
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $81,280

    Related occupations in Seattle, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Business Operations Specialists, All Other $101,420
    Project Management Specialists $125,390
    Accountants and Auditors $99,380
    Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $102,390
    Management Analysts $129,900
    Buyers and Purchasing Agents $85,980

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Human Resources Specialists in Seattle, WA is $42.33, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $74.02 or more per hour.

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

    The median Human Resources Specialists salary in Seattle, WA is 20.8% 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 Seattle?

    Entry-level Human Resources Specialists (10th percentile) earn around $59,000 per year in Seattle, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $70,740.