As the demand for skilled human resources professionals continues to rise in Tennessee, it’s been placing upward pressure on salaries in the field resulting in higher offers to retain well educated and experienced HR talent. In fact, when the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development published occupational forecasts, it named human resources specialists among the state’s Hot Careers to 2024 list.
Demand in the HR field is driven, in part, by a low business tax rate that has been helping the state outperform the rest of the country in terms of overall economic growth—a 43 percent GDP increase between 2007 and 2017 made it the seventh-fastest growing state in that period—and makes it a top ten prospect for its economic outlook according to the American Legislative Exchange Council.
With global business operations like FedEx and Autozone centered in Memphis, and Dollar General headquartered in Goodlettsville, there are major corporate operations around the state where HR professionals can tap into both regional and local demand for skilled managers and staff… and access the coming boom in HR salaries in the Volunteer State.
Salary Ranges and Professional Opportunities in HR
Tennessee HR professionals can make anywhere between $40,000 and $96,000 per year at the median level, depending on education, industry, and job title. But salary is only part of the puzzle when it comes to finding a solid job working in human resources… availability is also important.
Fortunately, the Tennessee job market is set to explode when it comes to HR positions throughout the range of job duties. Managers in training and development specializations will see a more than 24 percent increase, while compensation and benefits analysis specialists will see a whopping 26 percent increase through 2026.
That means there will be plenty of lucrative positions available for both master’s-educated managers and bachelor’s-trained staff.
Human Resources Manager Salaries in Tennessee
Managers are always among the best paid HR staff in any organization, as befits their advanced training—usually at least a master’s degree—and extra experience in the field. Those working in compensation and benefits enjoy the highest median wage in the state, at $96,830. But in the top ten percent, training and development managers—a particularly hot field here—can make $173,440, more than $10,000 over the next highest class.
Nashville
Nashville is the largest center of employment for HR managers of all types in the state.
Memphis/
Memphis’ heavy concentration of global companies, such as FedEx, ensures that it can deliver manager-level salaries well above both the state average and that of other metropolitan areas in the region.
Human Resources Specialist and Assistant Salaries in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Hot Careers to 2024 list puts HR, training and development, and labor relations specialists all among the most in-demand occupations that will be available in Tennessee through the coming years. Training and development specialists in particular are a hot commodity, with a more than 23 percent increase in jobs likely by 2026. With more than 2,000 annual openings between them, those professions are likely to be the ones that command the greatest salary appreciation in the coming years.
Nashville
Labor relations specialists in the Nashville area can bring home more than $100,000 in the top ten percent pay bracket.
Memphis
In the Memphis area, at the median level training and development specialists can make the highest amount statewide, earning $56,170 annually.
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_tn.htm#11-9111. The BLS salary data shown here represents median – 90th percentile salary ranges for the state and its MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries.
Job growth projections sourced from the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development 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 and job growth data accessed in October 2019.