Human Resources Specialists pay range in Boulder
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $159,370 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in Boulder earn between $66,810 and $124,990.
- $56K10th
- $67K25th
- $86KMedian
- $125K75th
- $159K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,420 | $8,285 | $47.80 |
| Median | $86,200 | $7,183 | $41.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,810 | $5,568 | $32.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $124,990 | $10,416 | $60.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in Boulder vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in Boulder earn 12% more than the Colorado average ($88,440) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $99,420 | $86,200 | $56,420 | $159,370 | 1,480 |
| Colorado | $88,440 | $80,840 | $51,290 | $133,850 | 19,450 |
| United States | $81,990 | $75,940 | $47,180 | $128,720 | 912,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Specialists salary after taxes in Boulder
On the average salary of $99,420, a single filer in Boulder takes home about $75,106 a year, or $6,259 a month and $2,889 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Boulder a good place for human resources specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boulder area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.2), so the average $99,420 buys what about $94,504 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Boulder ($69,580). A typical home costs $727,954, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists salary in other Colorado cities
Boulder ranks 1st of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boulder$99,420
- Denver$90,400
- Colorado Springs$84,310
- Fort Collins$83,630
- Greeley$80,560
- Pueblo$75,030
- Grand Junction$73,450
Highest-paying cities for human resources specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($122,290).
- San Jose, CA$122,290
- San Francisco, CA$113,530
- Washington, DC$105,580
- Lexington Park, MD$104,240
- Boulder, CO$99,420
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Human Resources Specialists salary in Boulder: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in Boulder?
$47.80 an hour on average, and $41.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in Boulder?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in Boulder?
About $75,106 a year ($6,259 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,420. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do human resources specialists earn more in Boulder than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more than the U.S. average for this job ($81,990).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-1071; area Boulder, CO (14500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.31, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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