Human Resources Specialist salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Human Resources Specialists in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $64,620 a year ($31.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,750 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $75,940. Pay here is 4% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $67,370. There are 4.4 human resources specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $71,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| 25th percentile | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| Median | $64,620 | $31.07 |
| 75th percentile | $87,420 | $42.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,750 | $53.25 |
| Average (mean) | $71,520 | $34.38 |
Half of human resources specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,385 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,692.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,485.38 |
| Weekly | $1,242.69 |
| Hourly | $31.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,620 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Human Resources Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $100,830 | 24,450 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $82,430 | 610 |
| Richmond, VA | $79,340 | 4,540 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $79,040 | 460 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $76,240 | 4,290 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $69,880 | 360 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $69,490 | 430 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $69,150 | 3,650 |
| Roanoke, VA | $67,450 | 780 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $67,380 | 8,210 |
| Knoxville, TN | $67,370 | 2,980 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $65,680 | 540 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $65,540 | 220 |
| Jackson, TN | $63,430 | 370 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $62,310 | 240 |
| Johnson City, TN | $61,730 | 360 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $61,660 | 1,550 |
| Cleveland, TN | $60,560 | 200 |
| Morristown, TN | $59,820 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for human resources specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 |
| Massachusetts | $85,630 |
| Washington | $84,550 |
| New York | $84,380 |
| Maryland | $83,910 |
| California | $83,500 |
| Connecticut | $82,890 |
| Virginia | $82,090 |
| Colorado | $80,840 |
| New Jersey | $80,690 |
See Human Resources Specialist pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management Specialist | $87,290 | $41.97 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $66,390 | $31.92 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $65,610 | $31.54 |
| Management Analyst | $93,610 | $45.01 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $56,460 | $27.14 |
| Compliance Officer | $63,860 | $30.70 |
| Cost Estimator | $69,080 | $33.21 |
| Logistician | $74,380 | $35.76 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $68,250 | $32.81 |
| Fundraiser | $56,500 | $27.16 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $67,830 | $32.61 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,940 | $36.51 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources specialist make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for human resources specialists in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $64,620 a year, or $31.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $110,750 a year. The top 25% earn $87,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,280 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $49,150 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 530 human resources specialists are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.