Quick answer:Human Resources Specialists in Pennsylvania earn a median $70,450 per year, below the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 36,960 of them. Licensing runs through HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
Human Resources Management Pay and Employment in Pennsylvania at a Glance
Metric
Pennsylvania
National
Source
Median annual wage
$70,450
$75,940
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$46,610
$47,180
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$56,050
$58,610
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$90,920
$99,380
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$119,850
$128,720
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
36,960
912,430
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.04
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
6.2%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Pennsylvania Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Pennsylvania median of $70,450 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 1.04 puts Pennsylvania 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.
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.
Human Resources Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), human resources specialists wages in Pennsylvania vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
16,000
$76,700
$84,290
$49,080
$126,900
Pittsburgh
6,280
$65,260
$73,080
$46,110
$106,810
Harrisburg-Carlisle
2,640
$70,140
$73,170
$47,890
$104,810
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton
1,720
$70,040
$75,320
$47,160
$117,240
Lancaster
1,200
$66,330
$72,130
$46,590
$104,750
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
1,130
$65,360
$71,990
$46,240
$104,750
York-Hanover
980
$74,350
$79,940
$46,770
$124,590
Reading
940
$69,410
$74,430
$46,940
$106,510
Erie
540
$60,860
$67,830
$42,650
$103,510
Altoona
310
$63,910
$70,540
$45,290
$108,180
Lebanon
310
$75,320
$78,280
$49,200
$113,570
Chambersburg
260
$71,800
$75,030
$47,420
$109,990
State College
260
$64,220
$69,190
$45,100
$100,210
Williamsport
220
$61,940
$66,380
$43,720
$94,540
Johnstown
190
$59,120
$64,850
$38,430
$101,350
Gettysburg
120
$62,600
$68,560
$46,200
$95,050
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
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.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 89 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do human resources specialists make in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for human resources specialists in Pennsylvania is $70,450, below the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $56,050 at the 25th percentile to $90,920 at the 75th.
How many human resources specialists work in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania holds about 36,960 human resources specialist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 912,430, and BLS projects about 81,800 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a human resources specialist in Pennsylvania?
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 the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a human resources management bachelor's or master's online while working in Pennsylvania?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
What is the highest-paying area of Pennsylvania for human resources specialists?
Among Pennsylvania metro areas with published data, Philadelphia reports the highest median at $76,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Pennsylvania a good state for human resources specialists?
On pay, the state median of $70,450 sits below the national $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.04 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
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.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
