Human Resources40% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Salary
by City (2026)

C-suite executive responsible for human capital strategy and organizational culture. National median: $278K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$278K

Top 10% earn

$468K

Entry level

$210K

Salary growth

+3%/yr

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$315K	$417K	$543K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$305K	$403K	$525K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$295K	$390K	$508K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$293K	$388K	$505K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$293K	$388K	$505K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$290K	$384K	$500K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$290K	$384K	$500K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$283K	$375K	$488K	175	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$284K	$375K	$489K	162	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$280K	$371K	$483K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$274K	$362K	$472K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$274K	$362K	$472K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$273K	$361K	$471K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$273K	$361K	$471K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$273K	$361K	$471K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$273K	$361K	$471K	148	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$271K	$358K	$467K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$269K	$356K	$463K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$267K	$353K	$460K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$264K	$349K	$455K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$263K	$348K	$453K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$259K	$343K	$447K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$257K	$341K	$443K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$257K	$341K	$443K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$256K	$339K	$442K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$254K	$337K	$438K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$254K	$337K	$438K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$250K	$331K	$430K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$248K	$328K	$427K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$248K	$328K	$427K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$248K	$328K	$427K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$248K	$328K	$427K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$248K	$328K	$427K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$241K	$320K	$416K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$241K	$320K	$416K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$241K	$320K	$416K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$241K	$320K	$416K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$235K	$311K	$405K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$235K	$311K	$405K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$235K	$311K	$405K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$235K	$311K	$405K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$235K	$311K	$405K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$235K	$311K	$405K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$232K	$307K	$400K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$231K	$306K	$398K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$231K	$306K	$398K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$231K	$306K	$398K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$231K	$306K	$398K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$231K	$306K	$398K	105	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$231K	$306K	$398K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$230K	$305K	$397K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$228K	$302K	$394K	118	5.99%
McKinney, TX	$227K	$300K	$391K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$227K	$300K	$391K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$227K	$300K	$391K	112	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$227K	$300K	$391K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$227K	$300K	$391K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$227K	$300K	$391K	104	6.8%
Anchorage, AK	$227K	$300K	$391K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$226K	$299K	$389K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$226K	$299K	$389K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$226K	$299K	$389K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$226K	$299K	$389K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$226K	$299K	$389K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$226K	$299K	$389K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$226K	$299K	$389K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$226K	$299K	$389K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$223K	$295K	$384K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$223K	$295K	$384K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$223K	$295K	$384K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$221K	$292K	$380K	97	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$221K	$292K	$380K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$221K	$292K	$380K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$221K	$292K	$380K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$221K	$292K	$380K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$221K	$292K	$380K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$221K	$292K	$380K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$221K	$292K	$380K	100	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$219K	$290K	$377K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$219K	$290K	$377K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$219K	$290K	$377K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$219K	$290K	$377K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$219K	$290K	$377K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$219K	$290K	$377K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$218K	$289K	$376K	91	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$216K	$286K	$372K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$216K	$286K	$372K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$216K	$286K	$372K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$216K	$286K	$372K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$216K	$286K	$372K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$214K	$284K	$369K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$214K	$284K	$369K	100	None ✓
Reno, NV	$214K	$284K	$369K	108	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$213K	$282K	$367K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$213K	$282K	$367K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$211K	$280K	$364K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$211K	$280K	$364K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$211K	$280K	$364K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$211K	$280K	$364K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$211K	$280K	$364K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$211K	$280K	$364K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$211K	$280K	$364K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$211K	$280K	$364K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$210K	$278K	$362K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$210K	$278K	$362K	91	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$210K	$278K	$362K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$210K	$278K	$362K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$210K	$278K	$362K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$210K	$278K	$362K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$210K	$278K	$362K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$210K	$278K	$362K	102	None ✓
Charleston, SC	$210K	$278K	$362K	105	6.5%
Albany, NY	$209K	$277K	$361K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$209K	$277K	$361K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$209K	$277K	$361K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$209K	$277K	$361K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$209K	$277K	$361K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$209K	$277K	$361K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$209K	$277K	$361K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$209K	$277K	$361K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$209K	$277K	$361K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$206K	$273K	$356K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$206K	$273K	$356K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$206K	$273K	$356K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$206K	$273K	$356K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$206K	$273K	$356K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$206K	$273K	$356K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$206K	$273K	$356K	95	6.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$206K	$272K	$355K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$206K	$272K	$355K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$206K	$272K	$355K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$206K	$272K	$355K	102	5.3%
Midland, TX	$203K	$269K	$351K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$203K	$269K	$351K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$203K	$269K	$351K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$203K	$269K	$351K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$203K	$269K	$351K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$202K	$267K	$348K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$202K	$267K	$348K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$202K	$267K	$348K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$202K	$267K	$348K	102	4.55%
Sterling Heights, MI	$202K	$267K	$348K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$202K	$267K	$348K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$202K	$267K	$348K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$202K	$267K	$348K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$202K	$267K	$348K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$202K	$267K	$348K	88	5%
Fargo, ND	$202K	$267K	$348K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$200K	$264K	$344K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$200K	$264K	$344K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$200K	$264K	$344K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$200K	$264K	$344K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$200K	$264K	$344K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$197K	$260K	$339K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$195K	$259K	$337K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$194K	$257K	$334K	82	4.82%
Buffalo, NY	$193K	$256K	$333K	88	6.85%
Louisville, KY	$193K	$256K	$333K	85	5%
Omaha, NE	$193K	$256K	$333K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$192K	$254K	$331K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$190K	$252K	$328K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$190K	$252K	$328K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$190K	$252K	$328K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$190K	$252K	$328K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$190K	$252K	$328K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$190K	$252K	$328K	78	6.5%
Spokane, WA	$189K	$250K	$326K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$189K	$250K	$326K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$189K	$250K	$326K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$189K	$250K	$326K	92	6%
Brownsville, TX	$187K	$248K	$323K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$187K	$248K	$323K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$187K	$248K	$323K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$185K	$245K	$319K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$185K	$245K	$319K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$185K	$245K	$319K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$185K	$245K	$319K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$185K	$245K	$319K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$185K	$245K	$319K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$185K	$245K	$319K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$185K	$245K	$319K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$185K	$245K	$319K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$185K	$245K	$319K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$181K	$239K	$311K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$179K	$236K	$308K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$179K	$236K	$308K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$172K	$228K	$297K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$172K	$228K	$297K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$164K	$217K	$282K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $278K Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is $278,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $210,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $362,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)s nationally earn $468,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in HR or Business; MBA; SHRM-SCP; 20+ years. This role is 40% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) compensation is growing at 3% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) salary FAQ

How much does a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) make?

The median Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) salary in the US is $278,000 per year — about $134/hour. Most earn between $210,000 (25th percentile) and $362,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)?

Entry-level Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) positions typically start around $210,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)s earn?

The top 10% of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)s earn $468,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)s the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) salary at $417K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) salaries going up?

Yes — Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) pay is growing about 3% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Salaryby City (2026)