Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Hattiesburg, MS, human resources specialists earn $55,000 at the median, or about $26.44 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.63), which stretches that salary to about $62,764 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,047/month, or 29% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $55K get you in Hattiesburg?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hattiesburg’s Regional Price Parity (87.63). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Hattiesburg
Pay for human resources specialists in Hattiesburg runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,047/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.63 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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 Hattiesburg, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $63K | $70K |
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $69K | $76K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $67K | $70K |
| Memphis | $69K | $75K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hattiesburg, MS
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $45K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hattiesburg numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hattiesburg?
Yes — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 28.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,047/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources specialists in Hattiesburg?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,213/month. At HUD’s $1,047/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Hattiesburg?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $55K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Hattiesburg compare to the national average for human resources specialists?
Hattiesburg pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.63), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Hattiesburg, MS?
The median is $55,000 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,880, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $81,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Hattiesburg?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,637/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,047/month, which eats 28.8% 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 Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg has a Regional Price Parity of 87.63 (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 $62,764 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.