Human Resources Specialists pay range in Amherst
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,970 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in Amherst earn between $64,230 and $104,880.
- $52K10th
- $64K25th
- $81KMedian
- $105K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,070 | $7,256 | $41.86 |
| Median | $80,770 | $6,731 | $38.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,230 | $5,352 | $30.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,880 | $8,740 | $50.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in Amherst vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in Amherst earn 9% less than the Massachusetts average ($95,400) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | $87,070 | $80,770 | $52,420 | $132,970 | 310 |
| Massachusetts | $95,400 | $85,630 | $57,500 | $145,130 | 27,300 |
| 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 Amherst
On the average salary of $87,070, a single filer in Amherst takes home about $66,050 a year, or $5,504 a month and $2,540 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Amherst a good place for human resources specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Amherst area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.2), so the average $87,070 buys what about $86,859 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Amherst ($57,030). A typical home costs $363,400, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists salary in other Massachusetts cities
Amherst ranks 2nd of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Boston pays the most ($96,840).
- Boston$96,840
- Amherst$87,070
- Worcester$86,180
- Barnstable$85,590
- Springfield$82,160
- Pittsfield$80,320
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 Amherst: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in Amherst?
$41.86 an hour on average, and $38.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in Amherst?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in Amherst?
About $66,050 a year ($5,504 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,070. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do human resources specialists earn more in Amherst than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (11200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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