Human Resources Managers Salary
In Washington, human resources managers earn $165,530 at the median, or about $79.58 an hour. The range runs from $109K at the entry level to $271K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $162,268 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 17.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $166K get you in Washington?
About human resources managers
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for human resources managers, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $149K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,830/month, 17.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Washington offers a genuinely strong financial position for human resources managerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $109K. Mid-career wages sit at $166K. Top earners bring in $271K or more, a $163K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers salary by metro in Washington
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $171K | +4% | 3,200 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $166K | +0% | 70 |
| Yakima | $161K | -3% | 50 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $155K | -7% | 30 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $152K | -8% | 90 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $151K | -9% | 40 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $147K | -11% | 250 |
| Bellingham | $138K | -17% | 80 |
| Longview-Kelso | $137K | -17% | 30 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $136K | -18% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $166K, rent takes 17.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources managers in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $109K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,530/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $166K here vs. $149K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for human resources managers?
Washington pays $166K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $162K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Washington?
The median is $165,530 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $108,830, and experienced human resources managers can clear $271,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $166K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,324/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 17.7% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $162,268 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.