Posted on March 25th, 2025 in Blog, Business

How to Become a Human Resources Manager

A human resources manager plays an important role in helping their employer succeed while empowering employees and contributing to a collaborative, positive workplace. Their advanced knowledge and specialized skills allow them to positively influence the overall development of organizations and their employees.

Individuals looking to establish a stable, fulfilling career in human resources (HR) management generally need an education in the field. This may include completing an undergraduate program, such as a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an HR management emphasis, or a graduate program, such as a master’s degree in organizational leadership or a master’s degree in business administration. Other steps include building relevant experience and pursuing certifications.

Human Resources Manager Job Description

Human resources managers oversee an organization’s most important resource — its people. They promote safety, address conflict, and help employees grow their careers while keeping the best interests of the organization in mind. The most common duties and responsibilities of an HR manager include the following:

Recruit, hire, train, retain, discipline, and terminate employees as necessary.
Manage the budget allocated to payroll and other HR costs.
Plan company outings, parties, and events.
Create, maintain, and distribute employee handbooks that inform employees of processes, rules, and guidelines.
Train other managers on constructive ways to carry out disciplinary actions.
Provide ample support and information regarding employee benefits, such as health or life insurance, 401(k) benefits, or profit-sharing.
Educate employees as company policies change.
Enforce company policies as they relate to HR.
Conduct performance evaluations.
Keep accurate employee records.
Assist with the organization’s public relations, including reputation and branding.

HR Manager Work Environment

Human resources managers are mid level managers employed across nearly every industry and employer type, including corporations, nonprofits, school systems, government agencies, and manufacturing facilities. This full-time, office-based role may require occasional evening or weekend work. Some may travel to attend workshops and meetings or to recruit new employees.

Steps to Become a Human Resources Manager

Most human resources managers are college educated with ample leadership, payroll, and administrative experience. Additionally, the most successful HR managers may obtain optional certifications or specializations that help them stand out from their competitors.

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

While a handful of smaller organizations may hire human resources managers without a college degree if they have at least five years of experience in a related field, most employers require at least a bachelor’s degree for an entry-level HR management role.

Bachelor’s degrees in fields such as accounting, marketing, and finance may suffice; however, some bachelor’s degree programs, such as HR degrees or business administration degrees with an HR focus, are specifically tailored to the role. Tailored programs often include courses in employment law, organizational behavior, employee training, and workforce compensation.

Gain Relevant Work Experience

A bachelor’s degree is sufficient to pursue and work in an entry-level role in an organization’s human resources department, but some aspiring HR managers work in other roles, such as staffing specialist or personnel manager.

Though many of these roles are full-time, a handful of organizations may be open to hiring part-time HR associates or representatives. The experiences gained and skills developed are essential for future leadership positions.

Earn a Graduate Degree

While some employers may consider candidates with years of experience in HR-related roles for a human resources manager position, a graduate degree is one of the best ways to enter mid level management.

Master’s degree programs in business administration or organizational leadership, among others, can provide the skills required to thrive in leadership and business management. These programs cover business fundamentals including finance, leadership, and human resource management. Online programs may offer a flexible environment that allows students to continue working while they study.

Obtain Optional Certifications

Certifications aren’t necessary, but they allow human resources managers to further their skills while demonstrating their knowledge. The Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI), demonstrates overall knowledge of HR management, including laws and ethical considerations.

The Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification, another HRCI credential, is similar but better suited for individuals with policy making and strategic backgrounds. The credential demonstrates accountability for planning and executing strategies that meet or exceed organizational goals.

Salary and Job Outlook for HR Managers

The median annual human resources manager salary was $136,350 as of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salaries vary based on factors including location and employer. For instance, those working in professional, scientific, and technical industries earned more ($165,670), while those working in healthcare and social assistance earned a little less ($114,830).

Employment of HR managers is projected to climb by about 6% between 2023 and 2033 as people transfer to other roles, retire, or otherwise leave the workforce. Organizations will increasingly rely on human resources managers to attract new talent, retain existing talent, and help diverse workplace cultures flourish.

Promote Employee Well-Being and Company Growth as a Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers’ skills and knowledge position them to facilitate the growth of both employees and their organizations. The role offers career stability, strong pay, and the ability to create a positive environment for everyone.

Warner Pacific University Online offers flexible online and hybrid degree programs geared toward working professionals, including a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business Administration with a Human Resource Management emphasis, a Master of Arts (MA) in Organizational Leadership, and an accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA). A Christ-centered institution, WPU also offers campus-based programs for those who prefer an in-person experience.

Learn how WPU Online can help you propel your HR career forward.

Sources:
ADP, Human Resource Management (HRM)
The Balance, “What Is Human Resource Management?”
Forbes, “Why HR Is Key to Executive Success: How the Human Resources Function Impacts Business Growth”
HRCI, Professional in Human Resources
HRCI, Senior Professional in Human Resources
Indeed, “How to Become a Human Resources Manager (Plus Certifications)”
Indeed, What Does a Human Resources Manager Do?
Indeed, “Why Work in HR? 13 Fulfilling Reasons (Plus Job Titles)”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Human Resources Managers
Workable, “Human Resources (HR) Manager Job Description”