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Human Resources Managers vs. Financial Managers: Who Earns More?

Financial Managerss out-earn Human Resources Managerss by $17K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Human Resources Managerss land at $149,280 and Financial Managerss at $166,570. The education gap is real: human resources manager programs typically require bachelor's degree, while financial manager programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Human Resources Managerss is District of Columbia ($184,350); for Financial Managerss it's New York ($219,880).

Human Resources Managers
Financial Managers
Median salary
$149,280
$166,570
Hourly rate
$71.77/hr
$80.08/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$88,200
$94,310
Senior level (90th %)
$267,810
$323,270
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
220,660
841,710
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
14.8%
Category
Management
Management
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
New York

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Human Resources Managers median pay.

State
Human Resources Managers
Financial Managers
District of Columbia
$184,350
$188,880
Massachusetts
$181,780
$206,760
New York
$176,650
$219,880
New Jersey
$172,440
$199,110
California
$170,080
$180,770
Rhode Island
$167,110
$166,940
Colorado
$166,400
$182,690
Virginia
$165,980
$185,220
Connecticut
$165,930
$174,830
Washington
$165,530
$174,840
Delaware
$153,890
$181,580
Illinois
$151,370
$165,880
Georgia
$150,700
$166,790
North Carolina
$142,990
$166,780
Texas
$136,500
$164,860

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Human Resources Managerss or Financial Managerss?

Financial Managerss earn more nationally. The median is $149,280 for Human Resources Managerss versus $166,570 for Financial Managerss, a difference of $17K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Human Resources Managers or Financial Managers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Human Resources Managers or Financial Managers?

Human Resources Managers typically requires bachelor's degree. Financial Managers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Human Resources Managerss get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Human Resources Managerss at $184,350/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Human Resources Managers vs. Financial Managers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Human Resources Managerss earn $184,350 vs. $188,880 for Financial Managerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Human Resources Managers salary breakdownView →Full Financial Managers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Human Resources Managerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Financial Managerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a human resources managersGuide →How to become a financial managersGuide →