Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Ohio, human resources specialists earn $70,180 at the median, or about $33.74 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $76,741 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Ohio?
About human resources specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Ohio
Human resources specialists pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $70K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $75K | +7% | 7,740 |
| Cincinnati | $73K | +4% | 7,110 |
| Cleveland | $71K | +1% | 6,330 |
| Akron | $70K | -0% | 1,800 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $69K | -2% | 2,160 |
| Toledo | $67K | -4% | 1,500 |
| Lima | $64K | -10% | 230 |
| Springfield | $62K | -11% | 200 |
| Sandusky | $62K | -12% | 210 |
| Canton-Massillon | $62K | -12% | 800 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $61K | -14% | 690 |
| Mansfield | $60K | -14% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track human resources specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 25.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources specialists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,757/month. At HUD’s $1,188/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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $70K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for human resources specialists?
Ohio pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Ohio?
The median is $70,180 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,950, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $118,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,710/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 25.2% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $76,741 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.