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From training to labor relations, compensation to benefits, human resources specialists do their part to ensure companies of all sizes run smoothly. If you're a people-person with strong organizational skills, consider training to work as a human resources specialist.

Human Resources Specialist Salary: 2009 Information

Training to become a human resources specialist can open the door to a range of rewarding careers across the country. The average human resources specialist salary in 2009 varied based on specialty, place of employment, and experience. Check out some median annual wages for human resources specialists as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

• Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists: $55,620
• Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists: $46,200
• Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists: $56,440
• Training and development specialists: $52,120

Human resources specialists earned the highest wages in the following occupations:

• Petroleum and coal products manufacturing: $85,200
• Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing: $82,990
• Federal executive branch: $79,280
• Oil and gas extraction: $79,170
• Natural gas distribution: $78,360

The following states paid the highest wages to human resources specialists: District of Columbia ($92,940), Maryland ($70,730), Virginia ($69,390), California ($69,130), and New Jersey ($68,240).

The following metropolitan locations saw human resources specialists earning the highest wages in 2009:

• Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $86,980
• San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA: $84,290
• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: $84,140
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $79,720
• Boulder, CO: $79,560

With a cost of living 25.3 percent higher than the national average in 2009, according to ACCRA, Boulder boasts the lowest cost of living of any city on the list above, making it a good potential location for human resources specialists. Salary.com reports median annual salaries from 2010 for a number of human resources specialist positions. Among them:

• Recruiter I: $47,405
• Training specialist I: $45,024
• Human resources assistant I: $34,459
• Compensation manager: $97,327

Explore Human Resources Specialist Training Online

Are you looking for an education that offers freedom and flexibility? Consider human resources specialist training online. Distance learning offers an accessible learning format, meaning you can log on from anywhere to complete your coursework.

Qualifying to work as a human resources specialist typically requires at least a four-year bachelor's degree. Students of online human resources specialist training programs are free to keep full-time jobs and family commitments while pursuing the targeted training they need.

Human Resources Specialist Career Outlook

Job opportunities for human resources specialists are expected to see some big gains in the coming years. The BLS projects that 184,500 new jobs for human resources specialists are expected to enter the job market between 2008 and 2018, meaning a 24 percent boost in careers in the industry. Learn more about training to become a human resources specialist and take your first steps towards boosting your career potential in this rewarding field.