The following article discusses the career path of Director of Human Resources. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Director of Human Resources.
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Job Duties
Directors of human resources can take on many different roles and responsibilities, and they can be found in any kind of organization. They often head numerous departments, having senior managers below them. A director of human resources is a strategic partner and the ambassador for the people within the organization. They deal with all the complaints and problems that arise on a daily basis, and focus on paperwork, payroll, and employee benefits.
These professionals also make sure that all policies and procedures are adhered to. They establish organizational goals, comply with all relevant professional standards, and meet the necessary federal and state laws and regulatory requirements. They are responsible for giving direction to issues, such as recruitment, training, and retention, coaching, team building, benefits, and leadership.
Other job duties of a director of human resources are:
- To ensure all relevant HR programs, policy, and procedures are delivered in a consistent manner, thereby meeting the organizational goals, and complying with professional standards, laws, and regulations
- To hold responsibility for all relevant human resources initiatives, which include recruitment, pay, employee benefits, training and development, and employee relations
- To be responsible for business planning, staff operations, and budget development as it pertains to human resources
Where We Work
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 136,100 human resources managers in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were in the:
- Management of companies and enterprises: 14%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services: 13%
- Manufacturing: 13%
- Government: 10%
- Healthcare and social assistance: 9%
How to Become
A bachelor’s degree is required as a minimum, but most directors of human resources hold a master’s degree. Typically, they have a major in business administration or in human resources. It is also beneficial to gain additional certifications.
Education Requirements
Directors of human resources will generally need a bachelor’s degree in a field related to human resources. This includes information technology, education, business management, and finance. It is helpful to also complete courses in fields such as industrial psychology or conflict management. It is becoming more common for these professionals to hold a master’s degree, particularly the master of business administration (MBA), or a master’s in labor relations or human resources.
Work experience is also of great importance. A director of human resources must be able to lead, direct, and organize other people. Often, they start as labor relations or human resources specialists and work their way up. They must also have demonstrable knowledge in local, state, and federal employment laws, human resources software, and compensation and benefits plans.
There is no legal requirement for a director of human resources to be certified or licensed, but it is beneficial. There are numerous professional associations, including the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, WorldatWork, the HR Certification Institute (HRCI), and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), that offer certifications.
Traits & Qualities
The most effective directors of human resources have the following traits to some degree or other:
- Excellent decision making skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Proven leadership skills
- Organizational skills
- Communication skills, both verbal and written
- Up to date computer skills
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s Degree
The national average salary estimate for Director of Human Resources was $93,347. This number is estimated from over 1,758,024 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $48.62 and monthly of $7,779.
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$25,000
$203,000
The following section lists Director of Human Resources salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $113,403 while Maine had the smallest quoted salary of $69,128.
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Director of Human Resources. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
| Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Investment Group | New York | $250,000 |
| Mackenzie Stuart plc | Texas | $218,222 |
| Diedre Moire | Michigan | $205,698 |
| Cube Management | Oregon | $203,095 |
| The Hadden Group | Tennessee | $200,000 |
| MUFG Union Bank | California | $194,757 |
| Marcum Search LLC | New York | $184,330 |
| AccessSourceGroup | Michigan | $177,184 |
| Addition Management | New York | $176,298 |
| Minutemen staffing | Massachusetts | $175,000 |
| North Star Staffing Solutions | Massachusetts | $175,000 |
| Michael Page | Indiana | $174,715 |
| Career Brokers, Inc. | New Jersey | $172,467 |
| Federal Government Jobs | DC | $169,004 |
| EC1 Partners | New York | $162,021 |
| The Judge Group | Tennessee | $159,157 |
| BizTek Recruitment | California | $158,225 |
| Gainor Staffing | New York | $157,334 |
Learn More
- DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Jobs | SHRM’s HR Jobs
- Director of Human Resources at Hampshire College in …
| Career Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Disaster Recovery Manager | $94,956 |
| Network Manager | $94,442 |
| Treasury Manager | $94,000 |
| Data Manager | $93,937 |
| Transportation Manager | $93,639 |
| Compensation Manager | $93,104 |
| Director of Operations | $90,674 |
| Director of Purchasing | $90,585 |
| Director of Marketing | $90,048 |
| Network Engineer | $88,447 |
