How much does a human resources specialist make in California?
$83,500a year
Median yearly pay for human resources specialists in California. That is $40.14 an hour or $6,958 a month.
- Hourly
- $40.14
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among states
- 6 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 104,000
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $52,770Median: $83,500Highest 10%: $151,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,770 | $25.37 | |
| 25th | $66,060 | $31.76 | |
| Median | $83,500 | $40.14 | |
| 75th | $117,400 | $56.46 | |
| 90th | $151,400 | $72.79 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $112,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $103,100 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $84,690 |
| Napa, CA | $84,400 |
| Vallejo, CA | $83,160 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $81,540 |
| San Diego, CA | $81,300 |
| Sacramento, CA | $80,950 |
| Oxnard, CA | $80,560 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $80,340 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $80,220 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,100 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $78,020 |
| Modesto, CA | $77,070 |
| Merced, CA | $76,820 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $76,700 |
| Riverside, CA | $76,570 |
| Stockton, CA | $76,560 |
| Hanford, CA | $76,250 |
| Yuba City, CA | $74,680 |
| Fresno, CA | $74,170 |
| Visalia, CA | $74,050 |
| Chico, CA | $73,910 |
| El Centro, CA | $71,970 |
| Redding, CA | $70,830 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for human resources specialists.
| 3. Washington | $84,550 |
| 4. New York | $84,380 |
| 5. Maryland | $83,910 |
| 6. California | $83,500 |
| 7. Connecticut | $82,890 |
| 8. Virginia | $82,090 |
| 9. Colorado | $80,840 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources specialist make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $40.14 ($83,500 a year).
Do human resources specialists make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $83,500 against $75,940 nationally, 10% more.
Where does California rank for human resources specialist pay?
California ranks 6 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays human resources specialists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $112,100 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.