Human Resources45% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth

Employee Relations Manager Salary
by City (2026)

Handle investigations, conflict, and policy to keep the workplace fair and compliant. National median: $108K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$108K

Top 10% earn

$165K

Entry level

$82K

Salary growth

+3%/yr

Employee Relations Manager salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$123K	$162K	$198K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$119K	$157K	$191K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$115K	$152K	$185K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$114K	$151K	$184K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$114K	$151K	$184K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$113K	$149K	$182K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$113K	$149K	$182K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$111K	$146K	$178K	175	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$111K	$146K	$178K	162	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$109K	$144K	$176K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$107K	$141K	$172K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$107K	$141K	$172K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$107K	$140K	$172K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$107K	$140K	$172K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$107K	$140K	$172K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$107K	$140K	$172K	148	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$106K	$139K	$170K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$105K	$138K	$169K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$104K	$137K	$168K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$103K	$136K	$166K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$103K	$135K	$165K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$101K	$133K	$163K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$100K	$132K	$161K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$100K	$132K	$162K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$100K	$132K	$162K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$99K	$131K	$160K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$99K	$131K	$160K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$97K	$128K	$157K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$97K	$127K	$156K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$97K	$127K	$156K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$97K	$127K	$156K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$97K	$127K	$156K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$97K	$127K	$156K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$94K	$124K	$152K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$94K	$124K	$152K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$94K	$124K	$152K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$94K	$124K	$152K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$92K	$121K	$148K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$92K	$121K	$148K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$92K	$121K	$148K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$92K	$121K	$148K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$92K	$121K	$148K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$92K	$121K	$148K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$90K	$119K	$145K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$90K	$119K	$145K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$90K	$119K	$145K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$90K	$119K	$145K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$90K	$119K	$145K	105	4.85%
New Haven, CT	$91K	$119K	$146K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$90K	$119K	$145K	118	6.99%
Frisco, TX	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$90K	$118K	$145K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$89K	$118K	$144K	118	5.99%
McKinney, TX	$89K	$117K	$143K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$89K	$117K	$143K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$89K	$117K	$143K	112	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$89K	$117K	$143K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$89K	$117K	$143K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$89K	$117K	$143K	104	6.8%
Anchorage, AK	$89K	$117K	$143K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$88K	$116K	$142K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$88K	$116K	$142K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$88K	$116K	$142K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$88K	$116K	$142K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$88K	$116K	$142K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$88K	$116K	$142K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$88K	$116K	$142K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$88K	$116K	$142K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$87K	$115K	$140K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$87K	$115K	$140K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$87K	$115K	$140K	112	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$86K	$114K	$139K	110	9.9%
Irving, TX	$86K	$113K	$139K	97	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$85K	$113K	$138K	108	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$86K	$113K	$139K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$86K	$113K	$139K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$86K	$113K	$139K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$85K	$113K	$138K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$85K	$113K	$138K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$85K	$113K	$138K	108	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$86K	$113K	$139K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$86K	$113K	$139K	102	None ✓
Provo, UT	$86K	$113K	$139K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$85K	$113K	$138K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$85K	$113K	$138K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$85K	$112K	$137K	91	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$84K	$111K	$136K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$84K	$111K	$136K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$84K	$111K	$136K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$84K	$111K	$136K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$84K	$111K	$136K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$84K	$110K	$135K	93	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$83K	$110K	$134K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$84K	$110K	$135K	100	None ✓
Reno, NV	$84K	$110K	$135K	108	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$83K	$110K	$134K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$82K	$109K	$133K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$82K	$109K	$133K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$82K	$109K	$133K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$82K	$109K	$133K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$82K	$109K	$133K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$82K	$109K	$133K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$82K	$109K	$133K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$82K	$109K	$133K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$82K	$108K	$132K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$82K	$108K	$132K	91	None ✓
Albany, NY	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$82K	$108K	$132K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$82K	$108K	$132K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$82K	$108K	$132K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$82K	$108K	$132K	102	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$82K	$108K	$132K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$82K	$108K	$132K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$81K	$106K	$130K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$81K	$106K	$130K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$81K	$106K	$130K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$80K	$106K	$129K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$81K	$106K	$130K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$81K	$106K	$130K	95	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$80K	$106K	$129K	88	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$81K	$106K	$130K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$80K	$106K	$129K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$80K	$106K	$129K	102	5.3%
North Charleston, SC	$81K	$106K	$130K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$79K	$105K	$128K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$79K	$105K	$128K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$79K	$105K	$128K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$79K	$105K	$128K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$79K	$105K	$128K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$79K	$104K	$127K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$79K	$104K	$127K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$79K	$104K	$127K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$79K	$104K	$127K	102	4.55%
Sterling Heights, MI	$79K	$104K	$127K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$79K	$104K	$127K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$79K	$104K	$127K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$79K	$104K	$127K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$79K	$104K	$127K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$79K	$104K	$127K	88	5%
Fargo, ND	$79K	$104K	$127K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$78K	$103K	$125K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$78K	$103K	$125K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$78K	$103K	$125K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$78K	$103K	$125K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$78K	$103K	$125K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$78K	$103K	$126K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$77K	$101K	$124K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$76K	$100K	$123K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$76K	$100K	$122K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$75K	$99K	$121K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$75K	$99K	$121K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	4.75%
Omaha, NE	$75K	$99K	$121K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$75K	$99K	$121K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$74K	$98K	$119K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$74K	$98K	$119K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$74K	$98K	$119K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$74K	$98K	$119K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$74K	$98K	$119K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$74K	$98K	$119K	78	6.5%
Spokane, WA	$74K	$97K	$119K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$74K	$97K	$119K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$74K	$97K	$119K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$74K	$97K	$119K	92	6%
Brownsville, TX	$73K	$96K	$118K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$73K	$96K	$118K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$73K	$96K	$118K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$72K	$95K	$116K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$72K	$95K	$116K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$72K	$95K	$116K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$72K	$95K	$116K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$72K	$95K	$116K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$72K	$95K	$116K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$72K	$95K	$116K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$72K	$95K	$116K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$72K	$95K	$116K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$72K	$95K	$116K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$71K	$93K	$114K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$70K	$92K	$112K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$70K	$92K	$112K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$67K	$89K	$108K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$67K	$89K	$108K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$64K	$84K	$103K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $108K Employee Relations Manager 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 →

Employee Relations Manager Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Employee Relations Manager is $108,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $82,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $132,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Employee Relations Managers nationally earn $165,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's degree. This role is 45% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Employee Relations Manager compensation is growing at 3% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Employee Relations Manager salary FAQ

How much does a Employee Relations Manager make?

The median Employee Relations Manager salary in the US is $108,000 per year — about $52/hour. Most earn between $82,000 (25th percentile) and $132,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Employee Relations Manager?

Entry-level Employee Relations Manager positions typically start around $82,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Employee Relations Managers earn?

The top 10% of Employee Relations Managers earn $165,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Employee Relations Managers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Employee Relations Manager salary at $162K 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 Employee Relations Manager salaries going up?

Yes — Employee Relations Manager pay is growing about 3% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Employee Relations Manager Salaryby City (2026)