It’s good to be part of the human resources field in Connecticut.
Connecticut leads the nation, in many cases, when it came to salaries for HR professionals. For example, Connecticut is among the top-paying states in the nation for human resources assistants ($47,780); compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists ($71,810); and compensation and benefits managers ($145,630).
Job growth in many HR professions is just as promising in Connecticut, with the number of compensation, job analysis, and benefits specialists, training and development specialists, and training and development managers all projected to increase at a double-digit rate between 2016 and 2026.
How to Qualify for High Paying HR Jobs in Connecticut
In Connecticut, HR specialists and HR assistants earn median salaries of $65,990 and $47,780, respectively. However, experienced HR management professionals often earn twice this much. For example, compensation and benefits managers in Connecticut earn a median salary of $145,630.
In order to qualify for high-paying HR manager, executive, and director jobs, HR workers need to prove long-term dedication to the field by building a strong history of formal education combined with years of applicable experience. Ways to enhance career advancement opportunities include:
- Earning a graduate degree in human resources, such as a Master of Science in Human Resources or a Master of Business Administration in Human Resources Management
- Gaining advanced skills and training by accumulating several years of work experience as a paid employee, intern, or volunteer in the human resources field
- Receiving a career credential by becoming certified as a human resource professional through the HR Certification Institute or the Society for Human Resources Management
Human Resources Management Salaries in Connecticut
A host of exciting professional opportunities – and salaries to match – is available to HR professionals who serve in managerial, supervisory, or executive roles. These jobs, usually attained by those with graduate degrees, HR certification, and/or extensive experience, come with six-figure salaries, in many cases. For example, human resources managers in Connecticut earn a median salary of $122,920, which is about $9,000 more than the national median salary for this profession.
The following tables provide a closer look at what HR management professionals are earning at all levels in Connecticut’s largest metro areas of New Haven and Bridgeport:
New Haven
The top-paying HR management professionals in the New Haven metro area are compensation and benefits managers, who earn a median salary of $140,670.
Bridgeport – Stamford – Norwalk
In the Bridgeport metro area, HR managers earn the highest median salary, at $156,990.
Human Resources Specialist and Assistant Salaries in Connecticut
All HR specialists and assistants in the New Haven metro area earn median salaries between $50,000 and $65,000, while in the Bridgeport metro area, salaries are even higher. For example, compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists here earn a median salary of $83,750 – that’s $23,000 more than those in the New Haven area.
The following tables provide a closer look at what HR specialists and assistants are earning in Connecticut’s two largest metro areas:
New Haven
Training and development specialists are the top earners at the median level in New Haven, at $64,840. HR specialists are close behind, earning a median salary of $62,430.
Bridgeport – Stamford – Norwalk
At both the median and top 10% salary range, compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists in the Bridgeport metro area earn the highest salary among all HR specialists and assistants, at $83,750 and $133,170, respectively.
Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2018 for human resources managers, specialists, and assistants – https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ct.htm#11-9111. The BLS salary data shown here represents median – 90th percentile salary ranges for the state and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries.
Job growth projections sourced from the Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and published in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2016-2026) database – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary data accessed in October 2019.