Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Elizabethtown, KY, human resources specialists earn $78,850 at the median, or about $37.91 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.57), which stretches that salary to about $87,060 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,056/month, or 20.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Elizabethtown?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Elizabethtown’s Regional Price Parity (90.57). 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 specialists
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What this looks like in Elizabethtown
Human resources specialists pay in Elizabethtown tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,056/month, 20.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for human resources specialists in metros near Elizabethtown, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $72K | $77K |
| Lexington-Fayette | $70K | $75K |
| Bowling Green | $62K | $69K |
| Paducah | $65K | $75K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Elizabethtown, KY
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Human Resources Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111K | +46% | 6,910 |
| Massachusetts | $86K | +13% | 27,300 |
| Washington | $85K | +11% | 22,770 |
| New York | $84K | +11% | 54,610 |
| Maryland | $84K | +10% | 15,530 |
| California | $84K | +10% | 104,000 |
| Connecticut | $83K | +9% | 9,010 |
| Virginia | $82K | +8% | 28,540 |
| Colorado | $81K | +6% | 19,450 |
| New Jersey | $81K | +6% | 21,690 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +4% | 17,240 |
| Oregon | $78K | +3% | 10,620 |
| Vermont | $78K | +2% | 1,270 |
| Delaware | $78K | +2% | 2,720 |
| Rhode Island | $78K | +2% | 3,320 |
| Alaska | $77K | +1% | 1,420 |
| Illinois | $77K | +1% | 35,430 |
| North Dakota | $76K | -0% | 1,710 |
| Hawaii | $74K | -3% | 2,570 |
| North Carolina | $73K | -4% | 31,140 |
| Utah | $72K | -6% | 9,900 |
| Maine | $72K | -6% | 3,020 |
| Nevada | $72K | -6% | 6,520 |
| Arizona | $71K | -6% | 20,230 |
| Kansas | $71K | -7% | 7,560 |
| New Hampshire | $71K | -7% | 4,270 |
| Georgia | $71K | -7% | 32,110 |
| Wisconsin | $71K | -7% | 17,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $70K | -7% | 36,960 |
| Ohio | $70K | -8% | 33,500 |
| Michigan | $70K | -8% | 25,520 |
| Kentucky | $69K | -9% | 10,900 |
| Texas | $69K | -9% | 84,930 |
| New Mexico | $68K | -10% | 4,090 |
| South Dakota | $68K | -11% | 1,340 |
| Tennessee | $67K | -11% | 21,460 |
| Missouri | $67K | -12% | 17,650 |
| Wyoming | $67K | -12% | 1,000 |
| West Virginia | $67K | -12% | 3,130 |
| Iowa | $67K | -12% | 7,930 |
| Florida | $66K | -13% | 62,730 |
| Indiana | $66K | -14% | 17,110 |
| South Carolina | $65K | -14% | 13,720 |
| Idaho | $65K | -14% | 3,930 |
| Alabama | $65K | -14% | 11,080 |
| Montana | $64K | -16% | 2,340 |
| Nebraska | $62K | -18% | 7,220 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -19% | 9,370 |
| Louisiana | $61K | -19% | 7,240 |
| Mississippi | $60K | -21% | 4,850 |
| Arkansas | $55K | -28% | 6,230 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track human resources specialists salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Elizabethtown?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 20.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,056/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources specialists in Elizabethtown?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,283/month. At HUD’s $1,056/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Elizabethtown?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Elizabethtown compare to the national average for human resources specialists?
Elizabethtown pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Elizabethtown, KY?
The median is $78,850 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,710, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $119,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Elizabethtown?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,059/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,056/month, which eats 20.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources specialists salary go in Elizabethtown?
Elizabethtown has a Regional Price Parity of 90.57 (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 $87,060 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.