Financial Managers vs Human Resources Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $88,790 more per year than Human Resources Specialists professionals — that's 121.8% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
Human Resources Specialists$45,440 – $126,540
$45,440$126,540
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Managers | Human Resources Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $86,490 | $45,440 | +$41,050 |
| 25th Percentile | $118,360 | $55,870 | +$62,490 |
| Median (50th) | $161,700 | $72,910 | +$88,790 |
| 75th Percentile | $214,210 | $97,270 | +$116,940 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $126,540 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $180,470 | $79,730 | +$100,740 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Human Resources Specialists
917,460
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
Best Cities for Human Resources Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $114,080 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $100,600 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $88,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $83,930 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Financial Managers or Human Resources Specialists?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $88,790 (121.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists?
Human Resources Specialists salaries range from $45,440 (10th percentile) to $126,540 (90th percentile), with a median of $72,910.
How many Financial Managers and Human Resources Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 818,620 Financial Managers positions and 917,460 Human Resources Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Human Resources Specialists to Financial Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Managers has a median salary of $161,700 while Human Resources Specialists earns $72,910. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS