Human Resources50% remote-eligible+3.5% YoY growth

Director of Human Resources Salary
by City (2026)

Lead HR strategy, talent acquisition, employee relations, and people operations. National median: $138K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$138K

Top 10% earn

$228K

Entry level

$105K

Salary growth

+3.5%/yr

Director of Human Resources salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$158K	$207K	$267K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$152K	$200K	$258K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$147K	$194K	$250K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$146K	$192K	$248K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$146K	$192K	$248K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$145K	$190K	$246K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$145K	$190K	$246K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$142K	$186K	$240K	175	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$142K	$186K	$240K	162	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$140K	$184K	$238K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$137K	$180K	$232K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$137K	$180K	$232K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$137K	$179K	$231K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$137K	$179K	$231K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$137K	$179K	$231K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$137K	$179K	$231K	148	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$135K	$178K	$229K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$134K	$177K	$228K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$133K	$175K	$226K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$131K	$173K	$223K	148	9.3%
Hilo, HI	$132K	$173K	$224K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$130K	$170K	$220K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$129K	$169K	$218K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$129K	$169K	$218K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$128K	$168K	$217K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$127K	$167K	$216K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$127K	$167K	$216K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$125K	$164K	$212K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$124K	$163K	$210K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$124K	$163K	$210K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$124K	$163K	$210K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$124K	$163K	$210K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$124K	$163K	$210K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$121K	$159K	$205K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$121K	$159K	$205K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$121K	$159K	$205K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$121K	$159K	$205K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$118K	$155K	$199K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$118K	$155K	$199K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$118K	$155K	$199K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$118K	$155K	$199K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$118K	$155K	$199K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$118K	$155K	$199K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$116K	$153K	$197K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$116K	$152K	$196K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$116K	$152K	$196K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$116K	$152K	$196K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$116K	$152K	$196K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$116K	$152K	$196K	105	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$116K	$152K	$196K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$115K	$151K	$195K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$114K	$150K	$194K	118	5.99%
McKinney, TX	$113K	$149K	$192K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$113K	$149K	$192K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$113K	$149K	$192K	112	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$113K	$149K	$192K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$113K	$149K	$192K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$113K	$149K	$192K	104	6.8%
Anchorage, AK	$113K	$149K	$192K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$113K	$148K	$191K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$113K	$148K	$191K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$113K	$148K	$191K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$113K	$148K	$191K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$113K	$148K	$191K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$113K	$148K	$191K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$113K	$148K	$191K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$113K	$148K	$191K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$111K	$146K	$189K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$111K	$146K	$189K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$111K	$146K	$189K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$110K	$145K	$187K	97	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$110K	$145K	$187K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$110K	$145K	$187K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$110K	$145K	$187K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$110K	$145K	$187K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$110K	$145K	$187K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$110K	$145K	$187K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$110K	$145K	$187K	100	4.85%
Houston, TX	$109K	$144K	$185K	91	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$109K	$144K	$185K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$109K	$144K	$185K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$109K	$144K	$185K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$109K	$144K	$185K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$109K	$144K	$185K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$109K	$144K	$185K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$108K	$142K	$183K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$108K	$142K	$183K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$108K	$142K	$183K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$108K	$142K	$183K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$108K	$142K	$183K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$107K	$141K	$182K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$107K	$141K	$182K	100	None ✓
Reno, NV	$107K	$141K	$182K	108	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$107K	$140K	$181K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$107K	$140K	$181K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$106K	$139K	$179K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$106K	$139K	$179K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$106K	$139K	$179K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$106K	$139K	$179K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$106K	$139K	$179K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$106K	$139K	$179K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$106K	$139K	$179K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$106K	$139K	$179K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$105K	$138K	$178K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$105K	$138K	$178K	91	None ✓
Albany, NY	$105K	$138K	$177K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$105K	$138K	$178K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$105K	$138K	$177K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$105K	$138K	$178K	98	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$105K	$138K	$177K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$105K	$138K	$178K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$105K	$138K	$178K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$105K	$138K	$178K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$105K	$138K	$178K	102	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$105K	$138K	$177K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$105K	$138K	$177K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$105K	$138K	$177K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$105K	$138K	$178K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$105K	$138K	$177K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$105K	$138K	$177K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$105K	$138K	$177K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$103K	$136K	$175K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$103K	$136K	$175K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$103K	$136K	$175K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$103K	$136K	$175K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$103K	$136K	$175K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$103K	$136K	$175K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$103K	$136K	$175K	95	6.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$103K	$135K	$174K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$103K	$135K	$174K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$103K	$135K	$174K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$103K	$135K	$174K	102	5.3%
Midland, TX	$102K	$134K	$172K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$102K	$134K	$172K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$102K	$134K	$172K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$102K	$134K	$172K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$102K	$134K	$172K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$101K	$132K	$171K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$101K	$132K	$171K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$101K	$132K	$171K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$101K	$132K	$171K	102	4.55%
Sterling Heights, MI	$101K	$132K	$171K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$101K	$132K	$171K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$101K	$132K	$171K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$101K	$132K	$171K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$101K	$132K	$171K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$101K	$132K	$171K	88	5%
Fargo, ND	$101K	$132K	$171K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$100K	$131K	$169K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$100K	$131K	$169K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$100K	$131K	$169K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$100K	$131K	$169K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$100K	$131K	$169K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$98K	$129K	$167K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$98K	$128K	$166K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$97K	$128K	$164K	82	4.82%
Buffalo, NY	$97K	$127K	$164K	88	6.85%
Louisville, KY	$97K	$127K	$164K	85	5%
Omaha, NE	$97K	$127K	$164K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$96K	$126K	$163K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$95K	$125K	$161K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$95K	$125K	$161K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$95K	$125K	$161K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$95K	$125K	$161K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$95K	$125K	$161K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$95K	$125K	$161K	78	6.5%
Spokane, WA	$95K	$124K	$160K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$95K	$124K	$160K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$95K	$124K	$160K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$95K	$124K	$160K	92	6%
Brownsville, TX	$94K	$123K	$159K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$94K	$123K	$159K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$94K	$123K	$159K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$92K	$121K	$157K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$92K	$121K	$157K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$92K	$121K	$157K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$92K	$121K	$157K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$92K	$121K	$157K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$92K	$121K	$157K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$92K	$121K	$157K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$92K	$121K	$157K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$92K	$121K	$157K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$92K	$121K	$157K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$90K	$119K	$153K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$89K	$117K	$151K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$89K	$117K	$151K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$86K	$113K	$146K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$86K	$113K	$146K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$82K	$108K	$139K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $138K Director of Human Resources 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 →

Director of Human Resources Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Director of Human Resources is $138,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $105,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $178,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Director of Human Resourcess nationally earn $228,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in HR or Business; SHRM-SCP certification; 10+ years. This role is 50% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Director of Human Resources compensation is growing at 3.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Director of Human Resources salary FAQ

How much does a Director of Human Resources make?

The median Director of Human Resources salary in the US is $138,000 per year — about $66/hour. Most earn between $105,000 (25th percentile) and $178,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Director of Human Resources?

Entry-level Director of Human Resources positions typically start around $105,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Director of Human Resourcess earn?

The top 10% of Director of Human Resourcess earn $228,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Director of Human Resourcess the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Director of Human Resources salary at $207K 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 Director of Human Resources salaries going up?

Yes — Director of Human Resources pay is growing about 3.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Director of Human Resources Salaryby City (2026)