Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Massachusetts, human resources specialists earn $85,630 at the median, or about $41.17 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $85,553 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 43.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in Massachusetts?
About human resources specialists
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for human resources specialists, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $76K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $88K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $90K | +5% | 21,770 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $81K | -6% | 310 |
| Springfield | $78K | -9% | 1,030 |
| Worcester | $77K | -10% | 2,050 |
| Barnstable Town | $76K | -11% | 400 |
| Pittsfield | $74K | -13% | 290 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 43.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,450/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $86K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for human resources specialists?
Massachusetts pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Massachusetts?
The median is $85,630 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,500, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $145,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,362/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 43.8% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (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 specialists salary is worth about $85,553 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.