Human Resources Managers Salary
In Trenton-Princeton, NJ, human resources managers earn $161,720 at the median, or about $77.75 an hour. The range runs from $111K at the entry level to $294K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.18), that's roughly $156,736 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,950/month, or 20.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $162K get you in Trenton-Princeton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Trenton-Princeton’s Regional Price Parity (103.18). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About human resources managers
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What this looks like in Trenton-Princeton
Human resources managers pay in Trenton-Princeton tracks closely to the national median, $162K locally vs. $149K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,950/month, 20.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.18) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for human resources managers in metros near Trenton-Princeton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $149K | $150K |
| Vineland | $130K | $136K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $185K | $164K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $154K | $151K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Entry-level human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $111K. Mid-career wages sit at $162K. Top earners bring in $294K or more, a $183K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Human Resources Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184K | +23% | 2,250 |
| Massachusetts | $182K | +22% | 7,540 |
| New York | $177K | +18% | 17,920 |
| New Jersey | $172K | +16% | 6,400 |
| California | $170K | +14% | 27,450 |
| Rhode Island | $167K | +12% | 530 |
| Colorado | $166K | +11% | 3,620 |
| Virginia | $166K | +11% | 5,770 |
| Connecticut | $166K | +11% | 3,020 |
| Washington | $166K | +11% | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $154K | +3% | 580 |
| Minnesota | $154K | +3% | 4,370 |
| Maryland | $153K | +2% | 3,820 |
| Illinois | $151K | +1% | 13,520 |
| Georgia | $151K | +1% | 7,270 |
| North Carolina | $143K | -4% | 6,480 |
| Oregon | $141K | -6% | 2,810 |
| Arizona | $140K | -6% | 3,950 |
| North Dakota | $139K | -7% | 290 |
| Michigan | $139K | -7% | 5,890 |
| Florida | $138K | -8% | 11,570 |
| Texas | $137K | -9% | 23,220 |
| New Hampshire | $135K | -10% | 1,150 |
| Kansas | $134K | -10% | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $133K | -11% | 3,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $133K | -11% | 8,230 |
| Vermont | $132K | -12% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $132K | -12% | 4,310 |
| Utah | $131K | -12% | 2,240 |
| Missouri | $131K | -12% | 3,510 |
| Ohio | $130K | -13% | 8,040 |
| Indiana | $130K | -13% | 3,030 |
| Maine | $130K | -13% | 700 |
| Alaska | $130K | -13% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $129K | -13% | 1,660 |
| Hawaii | $129K | -14% | 710 |
| Nevada | $129K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Wyoming | $128K | -15% | 140 |
| Iowa | $126K | -15% | 1,620 |
| South Carolina | $124K | -17% | 2,400 |
| Kentucky | $121K | -19% | 1,960 |
| West Virginia | $120K | -20% | 510 |
| Idaho | $120K | -20% | 1,040 |
| New Mexico | $118K | -21% | 820 |
| South Dakota | $118K | -21% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $116K | -22% | 1,750 |
| Montana | $115K | -23% | 530 |
| Alabama | $113K | -24% | 2,160 |
| Arkansas | $109K | -27% | 1,290 |
| Louisiana | $108K | -28% | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $106K | -29% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track human resources managers salary changes
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Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Trenton-Princeton?
Yes — at the median salary of $162K, rent takes 20.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,950/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources managers in Trenton-Princeton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $111K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,666/month. At HUD’s $1,950/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Trenton-Princeton?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $162K locally vs. $149K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Trenton-Princeton compare to the national average for human resources managers?
Trenton-Princeton pays $162K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $157K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median is $161,720 a year, that works out to about $78 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $111,100, and experienced human resources managers can clear $294,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $162K enough to live in Trenton-Princeton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,426/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,950/month, which eats 20.7% 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 Trenton-Princeton?
Trenton-Princeton has a Regional Price Parity of 103.18 (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 $156,736 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.