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Top 15 cities for human resources jobs
Full ranking
| # | Metro area | Price-adjusted median | Median salary | Price parity | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkersburg, WV | $108,561 | $94,520 | 87.1 | 440 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $101,555 | $112,140 | 110.4 | 7,970 |
| 3 | Lexington Park, MD | $97,430 | $98,170 | 100.8 | 330 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $92,603 | $100,830 | 108.9 | 24,450 |
| 5 | Rochester, MN | $92,280 | $83,810 | 90.8 | 500 |
| 6 | Minot, ND | $89,879 | $78,220 | 87.0 | 110 |
| 7 | Davenport, IA | $89,437 | $79,670 | 89.1 | 1,420 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $89,211 | $103,140 | 115.6 | 16,420 |
| 9 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $87,906 | $78,450 | 89.2 | 200 |
| 10 | Elizabethtown, KY | $87,058 | $78,850 | 90.6 | 1,060 |
| 11 | Topeka, KS | $86,343 | $76,690 | 88.8 | 720 |
| 12 | Bremerton, WA | $85,496 | $90,290 | 105.6 | 710 |
| 13 | St. Cloud, MN | $85,254 | $74,710 | 87.6 | 480 |
| 14 | Springfield, IL | $85,007 | $78,840 | 92.7 | 950 |
| 15 | Manhattan, KS | $84,736 | $76,400 | 90.2 | 500 |
| 16 | Huntsville, AL | $84,644 | $78,780 | 93.1 | 1,630 |
| 17 | Grand Forks, ND | $84,581 | $73,300 | 86.7 | 190 |
| 18 | Watertown, NY | $84,297 | $73,920 | 87.7 | 180 |
| 19 | Fargo, ND | $84,240 | $76,550 | 90.9 | 720 |
| 20 | Rapid City, SD | $84,096 | $74,980 | 89.2 | 230 |
| 21 | Olympia, WA | $83,631 | $86,700 | 103.7 | 1,410 |
| 22 | Seattle, WA | $83,477 | $92,770 | 111.1 | 14,120 |
| 23 | Bismarck, ND | $83,472 | $75,980 | 91.0 | 340 |
| 24 | Boston, MA | $83,378 | $90,270 | 108.3 | 21,770 |
| 25 | Charlottesville, VA | $83,140 | $82,430 | 99.1 | 610 |
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Highest raw pay for human resources jobs, before cost of living
More rankings
Sources and how to read this page
- Ranking: median annual wage of Human Resources Specialists (BLS OEWS May 2025; the average where BLS publishes no median) divided by the BEA price parity x 100. Only metros where BLS counts at least 100 of these jobs with a reliable estimate.
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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