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Human Resources Specialists salary in Arlington, VA

Human Resources Specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area earn a median of $100,830 a year, an average of $105,580. About 24,450 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Human Resources Specialists pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$100,830
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$105,580
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$60,940
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$158,940
Top of the range
People employed
24,450
In Arlington metro area
Rent share of median wage
27.1%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Arlington

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$2,275
per month, in Arlington, VA
Income needed for median rent
$91,000
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median human resources specialists wage
$100,830
10.8% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
27.1%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$140,160
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Arlington area. Read the Arlington, VA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Human Resources Specialists pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Boise City, ID
-34.5%
Median $66,060
Mean $71,030
Employed 2,180
Norfolk, VA
-24.4%
Median $76,240
Mean $79,850
Employed 4,290
Spokane, WA
-26.2%
Median $74,430
Mean $79,710
Employed 1,370
Fremont, CA
+2.3%
Median $103,140
Mean $113,530
Employed 16,420
Richmond, VA
-21.3%
Median $79,340
Mean $83,110
Employed 4,540
Baton Rouge, LA
-39.1%
Median $61,400
Mean $65,690
Employed 1,960
San Bernardino, CA
-24.1%
Median $76,570
Mean $81,920
Employed 7,210
Tacoma, WA
-8.0%
Median $92,770
Mean $99,220
Employed 14,120

See human resources specialists pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $100,830 / year
$100,830
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Virginia (VA)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Human Resources Specialists salary in Arlington, VA: FAQ

How much do human resources specialists make in Arlington, VA?

The median salary for human resources specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $100,830 a year (about $48 an hour for full-time work). The average is $105,580, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $100,830 a good salary for human resources specialists in Arlington, VA?

Yes. It is above the $91,000 needed to keep the median rent of $2,275 a month at 30% of gross income, and the median rent takes 27.1% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid human resources specialists earn in Arlington, VA?

The top 10% earn more than $158,940 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $60,940.

How many human resources specialists work in Arlington, VA?

About 24,450 people work in this occupation in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.