Human Resources Management Degree Programs in Texas (2026)

Quick answer: Human Resources Specialists in Texas earn a median $68,920 per year, below the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 84,930 of them. Licensing runs through HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.

Human Resources Management Pay and Employment in Texas at a Glance

MetricTexasNationalSource
Median annual wage$68,920$75,940BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$43,410$47,180BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$52,900$58,610BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$90,790$99,380BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$117,060$128,720BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment84,930912,430BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient1.031.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state6.2%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Texas Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Texas median of $68,920 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 1.03 puts Texas 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 Texas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Midland$78,650580
Austin$75,8608,940
San Antonio$72,9307,570
Houston$72,55018,320
Dallas$70,70029,190
Killeen$70,170720
Odessa$65,110290
Longview$64,750520
Waco$63,320590
Sherman$63,010220

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 Texas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), human resources specialists wages in Texas vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington29,190$70,700$75,220$39,630$120,190
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands18,320$72,550$77,120$46,570$118,820
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos8,940$75,860$80,840$48,050$127,240
San Antonio-New Braunfels7,570$72,930$77,490$46,350$117,700
El Paso1,800$58,990$63,320$38,470$97,350
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission970$53,600$58,780$36,190$86,900
Corpus Christi720$60,030$66,720$39,070$101,300
Killeen-Temple720$70,170$75,150$44,890$114,940
Beaumont-Port Arthur680$62,900$70,050$44,820$101,300
Lubbock610$60,380$65,510$41,850$97,730
Brownsville-Harlingen600$55,550$60,730$36,790$91,730
Waco590$63,320$70,400$39,990$106,810
Midland580$78,650$81,670$48,710$120,730
College Station-Bryan570$62,460$64,690$43,580$91,970
Longview520$64,750$68,620$43,520$97,760
Amarillo500$62,180$68,170$40,030$100,680
Tyler490$58,770$63,120$42,170$94,780
Laredo430$51,780$57,730$37,190$82,730
Abilene320$60,400$66,440$42,730$94,450
Odessa290$65,110$70,820$44,870$100,690
Sherman-Denison220$63,010$69,920$41,800$111,790
Wichita Falls220$62,300$65,390$36,800$98,780
Texarkana210$61,350$66,990$40,660$109,160
San Angelo160$61,630$68,960$42,100$106,330
Victoria140$59,580$64,780$38,630$100,720
Eagle Pass50$46,630$51,170$30,080$78,070

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 .

All Texas Metro Areas With Published Data

Abilene * Amarillo * Austin * Beaumont * Brownsville * College Station * Corpus Christi * Dallas * El Paso * Houston * Killeen * Laredo * Longview * Lubbock * McAllen * Midland * Odessa * San Angelo * San Antonio * Sherman * Texarkana * Tyler * Victoria * Waco * Wichita Falls

Licensing and Credentials in Texas

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 133 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

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.

#1

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX 71.0 miles away BOC Score 81.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 83.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 28
  • Annual completions: 2419
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $76,234 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Killeen, TX 22.4 miles away BOC Score 78.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 160
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,267 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Trinity University

San Antonio, TX 110.6 miles away BOC Score 77.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 83.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Annual completions: 56
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,249 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Baylor University

Waco, TX 54.9 miles away BOC Score 70.3
Tuition $58,100 - $74,226
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 51.3%
  • Graduation rate: 80.1%
  • Programs offered: 15
  • Annual completions: 906
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $69,608 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

The University of Texas at San Antonio

San Antonio, TX 108.5 miles away BOC Score 68.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 51.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 24
  • Annual completions: 2151
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,333 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX 69.6 miles away BOC Score 64.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 55.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 24
  • Annual completions: 1353
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,786 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX 133.4 miles away BOC Score 61.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 42.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 114
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,574 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX 116.7 miles away BOC Score 60.4
Tuition $9,228 - $25,505
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 90.3%
  • Graduation rate: 54.9%
  • Programs offered: 24
  • Annual completions: 1499
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,044 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX 105.0 miles away BOC Score 51.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 49.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 22
  • Annual completions: 624
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,758 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX 109.9 miles away BOC Score 48.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 22
  • Annual completions: 333
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,004 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do human resources specialists make in Texas?

The median annual wage for human resources specialists in Texas is $68,920, below the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $52,900 at the 25th percentile to $90,790 at the 75th.

How many human resources specialists work in Texas?

Texas holds about 84,930 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 Texas?

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 Texas?

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 Texas for human resources specialists?

Among Texas metro areas with published data, Midland reports the highest median at $78,650 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Texas a good state for human resources specialists?

On pay, the state median of $68,920 sits below the national $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.03 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.

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.


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/.