Human Resources Management Degree Programs in Georgia (2026)

Quick answer: Human Resources Specialists in Georgia earn a median $70,570 per year, below the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 32,110 of them. Licensing runs through HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.

Human Resources Management Pay and Employment in Georgia at a Glance

How Georgia Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Georgia median of $70,570 sits below the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 1.12 puts Georgia slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Georgia

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. HR headcount tracks employer headcount. Metros with large corporate, health system or public sector employers support the deepest HR job markets.

All Georgia Metro Areas With Published Data

Albany * Athens * Atlanta * Augusta * Brunswick * Columbus * Dalton * Gainesville * Hinesville * Macon * Rome * Savannah * Valdosta * Warner Robins

Licensing and Credentials in Georgia

Human resources is not licensed. The recognized professional credentials are the PHR and SPHR from HRCI and the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP from SHRM, all of which pair an examination with an experience requirement. On the academic side, SHRM aligns degree programs to its curriculum guidelines, which is the nearest thing this field has to programmatic accreditation.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

• Human Resources Management programs and how to choose one - the national guide to this degree
• Bookkeeper career profile - the trade career this degree path builds on
• All online degree paths for tradespeople
• Trade careers that require a 4-year degree

Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Human Resources Specialists (SOC 13-1071), national, state and metropolitan estimates
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.