An organization’s human resources department is an invaluable, and sometimes under-appreciated, pillar for success.
Human resources professionals address a wide array of behind the scenes employment matters, with everything from pinpointing top, prospective candidates; to ensuring company benefits are optimized.
Although some HR professionals are “Jills and Jacks of All Trades”, the industry is made up of numerous specialties with their own points of emphasis. A Compensation and Benefits Analysis Specialist, for example, is tasked with understanding the nuances of company-wide insurance, paid time off, and other benefits of a job. An understanding of actuarial science is helpful in this career.
Recruiters, meanwhile, seek out talent to meet job openings. This is a field that differs dramatically from something like Compensation and Benefits Analysis Specialist, as a Recruiter’s primary function is interpersonal communication and the ability to evaluate a prospect’s skill sets.
Meanwhile, Compliance Officers handle a variety of employment regulations. While not necessarily requiring bar certification, a Compliance Officer must be savvy in laws, especially those pertaining to OSHA.
Because all the various specialties in HR are necessary to a company’s functionality, careers in HR have solid growth outlook and median salary.
Of the eight best jobs in HR for 2019, annual median wages mostly from around $61,000 to more than $110,000. None of the eight careers have an annual growth outlook lower than 9%.
Human Resource Managers earned the highest wage at $113,000. While the entry-level education required is a bachelor’s degree, some of the senior-level and most highest-paying opportunities in the field ask for a master’s degree or MBA.
Of the eight best jobs in HR for 2019, annual median wages range from around $61,000 to more than $110,000. None of the eight careers have an annual growth outlook lower than 9%.
In general, postsecondary education is necessary to get started for an entry-level position in human resources.
To meet the demand for HR professionals, the business departments of various universities and colleges have placed an emphasis on HR academic tracts. The University of Nebraska Lincoln – located near America’s hub for actuarial professions and in one of CareerCast.com’s Best Cities for Return on Salary – offers comprehensive HR courses. So, too, does the University of Washington in Seattle.
