Human Resources Specialist salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Human Resources Specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $100,830 a year ($48.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 24,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,940 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $75,940. Pay here is 9% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $110,970. There are 7.8 human resources specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $105,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,940 | $29.30 |
| 25th percentile | $76,070 | $36.57 |
| Median | $100,830 | $48.48 |
| 75th percentile | $131,510 | $63.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,940 | $76.41 |
| Average (mean) | $105,580 | $50.76 |
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 | $8,402.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,201.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,878.08 |
| Weekly | $1,939.04 |
| Hourly | $48.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $100,830 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $98,170 | 330 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $94,520 | 440 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $82,430 | 610 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $82,380 | 7,930 |
| Richmond, VA | $79,340 | 4,540 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $79,040 | 460 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $77,730 | 510 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $76,700 | 16,000 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $76,240 | 4,290 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $69,880 | 360 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $69,490 | 430 |
| Salisbury, MD | $67,640 | 230 |
| Roanoke, VA | $67,450 | 780 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $65,540 | 220 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $64,620 | 530 |
| Morgantown, WV | $63,500 | 270 |
| Beckley, WV | $62,850 | 140 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $62,480 | 220 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $62,310 | 240 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $61,770 | 120 |
| Charleston, WV | $61,500 | 540 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $59,810 | 540 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $104,770 | $50.37 |
| Management Analyst | $126,830 | $60.97 |
| Project Management Specialist | $127,030 | $61.07 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $87,160 | $41.91 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $104,880 | $50.43 |
| Compliance Officer | $100,200 | $48.17 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $82,400 | $39.62 |
| Logistician | $104,330 | $50.16 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $75,450 | $36.27 |
| Fundraiser | $80,610 | $38.75 |
| Cost Estimator | $89,330 | $42.95 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $91,660 | $44.07 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $105,210 | $50.58 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for human resources specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $100,830 a year, or $48.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $158,940 a year. The top 25% earn $131,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,940 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $76,070 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 24,450 human resources specialists are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.