The Average Salary of a Employee Relations Generalist

Employee relations generalists are human resource professionals.

An employee relations generalist, also referred to as an employee relations specialist, is a human resources professional who coordinates employee activities for an organization. These professionals conduct new employee orientation, maintain employee records and advise employees and supervisors confidentially regarding internal concerns or disciplinary actions. Salary for this specialized human resources occupation may vary based on a few factors.

Qualifications

Almost all employers require a bachelor's degree in human resources, psychology or a related discipline for this occupation. Credentials and membership with highly-respected professional organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management may increase employment opportunities. This organization offers the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.

National Average

Employee relations generalists are typically paid a base salary rather than an hourly wage, as well as bonuses and profit sharing. Along with compensation, Payscale reported 90 percent of these professionals receiving health benefits including medical, dental and vision care. In October 2010, average base salaries ranged from $43,103 to $65,224 per year. Bonuses ranged between $1,464 and $5,885 per year and profit sharing ranged between $1,000 and $3,000 per year. Total compensation ranged from $42,608 and $63,558 per year.

Industries

These professionals can be found in almost all organizations, especially those with a large amount of employees. Popular industries include health care, education, financial services, recruiting or staffing firms and insurance. The highest salaries were reported in the financial services industry, where employee relations specialists earned from $44,278 to $64,951 per year. Health care paid average salaries ranging from $42,830 to $62,696 per year and education paid average salaries ranging from $41,552 to $60,822 per year.

Professional Experience

Employee relations generalists often increase their salary as they gain professional experience. Payscale reported 43 percent having between one and four years of experience and 39 percent having between five and nine years of experience. Salaries ranged between $40,512 and $56,210 per year for those with one to four years of experience and $53,200 and $81,329 per year for those with 10 to 19 years of experience.

Job Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 22 percent job growth for human resources occupations between 2008 and 2018. This increase is much faster than the average growth for all occupations. Growth is expected because of changes in legislation and employment laws, as well as the need to reduce overall employee costs. Career progression for employee relations generalists often lead to human resource manager or employee relations manager occupations.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations Managers and Specialists