Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Indiana, human resources specialists earn $65,600 at the median, or about $31.54 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $71,452 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 26% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Indiana?
About human resources specialists
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What this looks like in Indiana
Pay for human resources specialists in Indiana runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,144/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists salary by metro in Indiana
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan City-La Porte | $68K | +3% | 160 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $67K | +3% | 7,150 |
| Bloomington | $67K | +2% | 320 |
| Kokomo | $66K | +1% | 130 |
| Fort Wayne | $66K | -0% | 1,150 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $65K | -1% | 620 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $64K | -2% | 510 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $64K | -3% | 670 |
| Evansville | $64K | -3% | 660 |
| Columbus | $62K | -5% | 340 |
| Terre Haute | $62K | -6% | 240 |
| Muncie | $61K | -7% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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Track human resources specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 26.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources specialists in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,689/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Indiana?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $66K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for human resources specialists?
Indiana pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Indiana?
The median is $65,600 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,810, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $106,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,378/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 26.1% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $71,452 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.