Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Arizona, human resources specialists earn $71,390 at the median, or about $34.32 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $74,048 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Arizona?
About human resources specialists
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What this looks like in Arizona
Human resources specialists pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,437/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists salary by metro in Arizona
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista-Douglas | $78K | +10% | 200 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $75K | +5% | 15,430 |
| Yuma | $65K | -9% | 400 |
| Tucson | $64K | -10% | 2,130 |
| Flagstaff | $63K | -11% | 310 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $62K | -12% | 290 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $62K | -13% | 250 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 30.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources specialists in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,837/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is human resources specialist a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for human resources specialists?
Arizona pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Arizona?
The median is $71,390 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,290, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $112,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,735/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 30.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a human resources specialists salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median human resources specialists salary is worth about $74,048 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources specialists 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.