Career field
Human Resources Jobs in the USA
Human resources teams hire, pay, support and develop the people who work for an organization. Recruiters and talent acquisition specialists find and screen candidates, HR generalists handle a wide mix of employee questions and policies, and HR business partners advise managers on team issues. Specialist paths include compensation and benefits, HR information systems, payroll, employee relations, learning and development, and diversity and inclusion programs. Every mid-size and large employer has an HR function, and staffing agencies and recruiting firms hire recruiters in large numbers. A good HR professional knows employment law basics, such as wage and hour rules, leave and anti-discrimination requirements, and handles confidential information carefully. Certifications from SHRM (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP) and HRCI (PHR, SPHR) are well recognized but not always required. Recruiting coordinator and HR assistant roles are common starting points, and people from customer service, operations or sales often move into recruiting successfully.
Updated
Latest human resources job openings
Common human resources job titles
Select a title to search current openings.
Skills employers ask for
Skills that appear often in postings for this field. Check each posting for its exact requirements.
- Applicant tracking systems (Workday, Greenhouse, iCIMS)
- Interviewing and candidate screening
- US employment law basics
- Benefits administration
- HRIS and payroll systems
- Confidentiality and discretion
- Conflict resolution
- Onboarding programs
- Data reporting in Excel
- SHRM or HRCI certification
Human Resources pay: how to check what a job pays
HR pay varies by specialty and company size, and recruiter pay may include bonuses tied to hires. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers human resources specialists and managers; compare with the posting's stated range.
We do not publish salary averages of our own. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and our salary negotiation guide.
Human Resources jobs by city
Explore major US job markets, or search remote openings.
Watch out for job scams
Real employers never charge you to apply. Walk away if you see any of these:
- You are asked to pay for training, equipment, a background check or an application fee.
- They send a check and ask you to buy equipment from their vendor or send part of it back.
- The 'job' is receiving money into your account, or packages at home, and forwarding them.
- You get an offer without a real phone or video interview, often after a chat-only exchange.
Human Resources jobs: frequently asked questions
How do I get into HR with no experience?
Look for HR assistant, recruiting coordinator or onboarding coordinator roles, or move into HR from an operations or customer-facing job at your current employer. A SHRM-CP or aPHR certification can help show commitment.
Is recruiting a good entry point into HR?
Yes, many HR professionals started in recruiting. Agency recruiting is often sales-like with commissions, while in-house recruiting focuses on one employer's hiring.
Which HR certification is better, SHRM or HRCI?
Both are widely recognized. Some employers state a preference in the posting. Check the eligibility rules and exam content on each organization's website and choose the one that fits your experience level.
How can I tell if a recruiter who contacted me is real?
Check that the recruiter's email uses the company's domain, find the role on the company's official careers page, and look the person up on LinkedIn. Real recruiters do not ask for payment or bank details before an offer.
Job search guides
Plain-English guides for job seekers in the US.
- Spot job scamsLearn the warning signs of fake job offers in the US: fake check and equipment scams, pay-to-train schemes, reshipping and task scams, and how to report them to the FTC and IC3.
- US resume guideA practical guide to the American resume: one or two pages, no photo, the sections recruiters expect, how applicant tracking systems read it, and how to tailor it to each job.
- Interview preparationPrepare for phone, video and in-person interviews in the US: research the employer, answer common and behavioral questions with the STAR method, ask good questions and follow up.
- Salary negotiationHow to research fair pay in the US, answer salary expectation questions, compare total compensation and negotiate a job offer politely, with sample wording.
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