How Much Does a Vice President of Human Resources Make in 2025?
A vice president of human resources' salary reflects the high-level responsibility of leading an organization's HR strategy, managing talent acquisition, compliance, and workforce development. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady employment growth of 5% from 2024 to 2034 for management roles in human resources, indicating continued demand for HR leadership positions.
Salaries for vice president of human resources remain competitive in 2025. According to a Salary.com report, the average salary for a VP of human resources is $197,990 per year. Their pay can vary based on experience, location, education, and company size, which we'll cover in this salary guide.
What is the Average Vice President of Human Resources' Salary?
The average annual salary for a vice president of human resources in the United States is $197,990 as of November 1, 2025. For the hourly rate, a human resources vice president can earn an average salary of $95, with rates ranging between $82 and $113 per hour.
2025 Vice President of Human Resources Average Salary: $197,990 per year ($95 per hour)
The average weekly and monthly salaries for a vice president of human resources are $3,808 and $16,499, respectively.
What is the Pay Range for a Vice President of Human Resources?
According to Salary.com, the salary range for a vice president of human resources starts at $169,715 and can reach as high as $235,244 per year, with most earnings falling between $183,190 and $217,490 annually.
Vice President of Human Resources Salary Range: $169,715 to $235,244 per year ($82 to $113 per hour)
| Percentile | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $82 | $3,264 | $14,143 | $169,715 |
| 25th Percentile | $88 | $3,523 | $15,266 | $183,190 |
| 50th (Median) | $95 | $3,808 | $16,499 | $197,990 |
| 75th Percentile | $105 | $4,183 | $18,124 | $217,490 |
| 90th Percentile | $113 | $4,524 | $19,604 | $235,244 |
However, as mentioned earlier, the salary range for a human resources vice president can vary based on factors such as experience, location, education, and company size.
Vice President of Human Resources Salary Factors
A vice president of human resources' salary is shaped by several important factors, including experience, location, and skills. Below is a breakdown of each factor to explain how they influence earning potential.
Years of Experience
Experience is one of the strongest factors influencing a VP of human resources' salary, as seasoned human resources vice presidents are trusted to handle complex HR strategy, lead teams, and guide the HR department in achieving company goals.
The average salary for a vice president of human resources, based on years of experience, ranges from $189,300 per year for entry-level to $196,506 per year for expert-level professionals.
| Level | Years of Experience | Average Salary (Per Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Vice President of Human Resources | less than 1 year | $189,300 |
| Intermediate Level Vice President of Human Resources | 1-2 years | $190,572 |
| Senior Level Vice President of Human Resources | 2-4 years | $192,268 |
| Specialist Level Vice President of Human Resources | 5-8 years | $194,387 |
| Expert Level Vice President of Human Resources | over 8 years | $196,506 |
Place of Work
The BLS does not provide salary data specifically for a vice president of human resources, but it does report figures for the broader occupation of human resources managers. Many of the compensation and responsibilities overlap with the human resources vice president's role, making this the closest category for salary estimation.
| Place of Work | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | $163,970 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $163,180 |
| Manufacturing | $137,570 |
| Government, excluding state & local education and hospitals | $124,930 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | $120,010 |
Based on the data, human resources leadership roles in professional, scientific, and technical services tend to earn the most, while roles in government (excluding state & local education and hospitals), as well as healthcare and social assistance, typically come with lower median pay. Salary variation reflects differences in company size, industry profitability, complexity of the HR function, and region.
Skill Set
A vice president of human resources with in-demand skills is more likely to have a salary increase. Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report showed that a VP of human resources with Process Analysis skills can earn 8.69% more than those without.
The same report says that a vice president of human resources with Leadership Development skills is more likely to experience a salary increase of 7.57%, followed by skills like HR Compliance and Training & Development.
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Process Analysis | 10.60% | +8.69% |
| Leadership Development | 10.40% | +7.57% |
| HR Compliance | 10.10% | +7.49% |
| Training and Development | 10.00% | +7.42% |
| Talent Acquisition | 10.00% | +7.30% |
| Employee Data Management | 10.50% | +7.23% |
Vice President of Human Resources Salary by City and State
The location where a vice president of human resources works can have a significant effect on their salary. This information is useful for tracking salary trends, negotiating pay, or career planning.
Highest Paying States for Vice President of Human Resources
Based on Salary.com pay data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average salary for a VP of human resources in the United States at $219,190 annually ($105 per hour), followed by California at $218,390 annually ($105 per hour).
- District of Columbia: $219,190 ($105 per hour)
- California: $218,390 ($105 per hour)
- Massachusetts: $215,490 ($104 per hour)
- Washington: $214,690 ($103 per hour)
- New Jersey: $214,590 ($103 per hour)
Vice President of Human Resources Salary by State
| State | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $214,290 |
| Alabama | $181,890 |
| Arkansas | $178,890 |
| Arizona | $192,890 |
| California | $218,390 |
| Colorado | $201,990 |
| Connecticut | $211,590 |
| District of Columbia | $219,190 |
| Delaware | $200,490 |
| Florida | $187,290 |
| Georgia | $190,990 |
| Hawaii | $206,890 |
| Iowa | $189,490 |
| Idaho | $184,790 |
| Illinois | $201,790 |
| Indiana | $190,090 |
| Kansas | $188,490 |
| Kentucky | $186,290 |
| Louisiana | $188,290 |
| Massachusetts | $215,490 |
| Maryland | $204,190 |
| Maine | $193,090 |
| Michigan | $194,990 |
| Minnesota | $202,590 |
| Missouri | $188,090 |
| Mississippi | $176,590 |
| Montana | $186,890 |
| North Carolina | $188,190 |
| North Dakota | $195,590 |
| Nebraska | $186,490 |
| New Hampshire | $200,190 |
| New Jersey | $214,590 |
| New Mexico | $183,390 |
| Nevada | $195,990 |
| New York | $210,490 |
| Ohio | $192,790 |
| Oklahoma | $183,090 |
| Oregon | $201,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $197,090 |
| Rhode Island | $205,290 |
| South Carolina | $185,490 |
| South Dakota | $179,890 |
| Tennessee | $184,990 |
| Texas | $193,090 |
| Utah | $189,590 |
| Virginia | $199,390 |
| Vermont | $194,290 |
| Washington | $214,690 |
| Wisconsin | $194,790 |
| West Virginia | $178,290 |
| Wyoming | $189,890 |
Highest Paying Cities for Vice President of Human Resources
Salary.com data also shows that San Jose, CA offers the highest pay for a vice president of human resources at $249,690 per year ($120 per hour). Other top-paying cities include:
- San Jose, CA: $249,690 ($120 per hour)
- San Francisco, CA: $247,290 ($119 per hour)
- Oakland, CA: $241,790 ($116 per hour)
- New York, NY: $229,490 ($110 per hour)
- Queens Village, NY: $227,990 ($110 per hour)
Ways to Increase Your Salary as a Vice President of Human Resources
Human resources vice presidents wanting to increase their salary must combine strategic impact, skill development, and market awareness. Here are key strategies for HR leaders to boost compensation:
- Demonstrate strategic business impact: Show how HR strategy and initiatives align with company goals, including talent acquisition, compliance, and workforce development. Executives who tie human resources programs to measurable business outcomes strengthen their case for a higher vice president of human resources salary.
- Expand skill set and credentials: Develop advanced skills in areas such as human resources analytics, employee engagement, and compliance. HR executives with expertise in leading HR departments or handling complex human resources functions command higher pay. Obtaining certifications or degrees in a related field can also increase the average salary for VP of human resources.
- Build cross-functional relationships and business acumen: Position yourself as a key partner to the CEO and leadership team by understanding the broader business context. Executives who contribute to company-wide strategy and decision-making are likely to earn higher compensation.
- Take on roles with larger scope and higher complexity: Roles with broader responsibilities, like managing larger teams, multiple locations, or global HR operations, typically correlate with higher compensation. Leading transformation initiatives, restructuring, or major HR projects can justify a salary increase.
- Negotiate effectively using market data: Use resources like Salary.com to benchmark pay and understand the current human resources salary ranges for VP positions. Preparing data from reputable sources strengthens your negotiation and highlights how your role compares to most common vice president positions in the industry.
- Stay visible and proactive in delivering HR innovation: HR leaders who implement new programs, embrace technology in HR, or lead initiatives in employee engagement and human resources compliance demonstrate value. Executives driving measurable improvements in HR performance are positioned to earn higher total compensation.
Average National Salaries by Source
As of November 1, 2025, data from multiple sources provide a broader perspective on the average VP of human resources salaries. The unweighted average salary across five major sources is approximately $196,273 per year.
SALARY.COM AVG. SALARY
$197,990/ year
INDEED AVG. SALARY
$168,972/ year
GLASSDOOR AVG. SALARY
$301,000/ year
PAYSCALE AVG. SALARY
$151,927/ year
ZIPRECRUITER AVG. SALARY
$161,477/ year
