Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Rhode Island, human resources specialists earn $77,560 at the median, or about $37.29 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $76,211 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 30.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Rhode Island?
About human resources specialists
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Human resources specialists pay in Rhode Island tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,544/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $77K | -1% | 4,180 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 30.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,076/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Rhode Island?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for human resources specialists?
Rhode Island pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Rhode Island?
The median is $77,560 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,270, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $128,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,035/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 30.7% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $76,211 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.