Human Resources Managers Salary
In California, human resources managers earn $170,080 at the median, or about $81.77 an hour. The range runs from $96K at the entry level to $308K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $160,241 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 24.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $170K get you in California?
About human resources managers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for human resources managers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $149K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $96K. Mid-career wages sit at $170K. Top earners bring in $308K or more, a $211K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers salary by metro in California
24 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $220K | +30% | 2,800 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $209K | +23% | 4,960 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $168K | -1% | 9,070 |
| Napa | $167K | -2% | 120 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $165K | -3% | 210 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $165K | -3% | 130 |
| Vallejo | $164K | -4% | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $163K | -4% | 2,300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $162K | -5% | 380 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $162K | -5% | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $155K | -9% | 1,300 |
| Modesto | $154K | -10% | 150 |
| Merced | $153K | -10% | 70 |
| Salinas | $150K | -12% | 150 |
| Redding | $143K | -16% | 50 |
| Yuba City | $143K | -16% | 40 |
| Fresno | $143K | -16% | 400 |
| Visalia | $142K | -16% | 120 |
| Chico | $140K | -18% | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $139K | -18% | 1,630 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $138K | -19% | 240 |
| El Centro | $138K | -19% | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $136K | -20% | 260 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $130K | -24% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 metros
Compare to other states
Track human resources managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $170K, rent takes 25.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources managers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $96K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,786/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $170K here vs. $149K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for human resources managers?
California pays $170K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $160K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in California?
The median is $170,080 a year, that works out to about $82 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,430, and experienced human resources managers can clear $307,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $170K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,587/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 25.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median human resources managers salary is worth about $160,241 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.