Houston · Occupational wage benchmark
Human Resources Managers Salary in Houston
What Human Resources Managers actually earn in the Houston metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro estimates for SOC 11-3121; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $142,110
- Human Resources Managers in Houston
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $144,085
- Houston price level 98.6 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #26 of 48
- #24 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 5,890
- in metro Houston
What Human Resources Managers earn in Houston, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Houston moves up 2 places — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
| Metro | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $220,460 | $199,650 |
| San Francisco | $209,340 | $181,070 |
| New York | $185,100 | $164,441 |
| Boston | $184,990 | $170,866 |
| Washington DC | $177,960 | $163,440 |
| Seattle | $171,360 | $154,194 |
| Denver | $170,940 | $161,596 |
| Los Angeles | $168,400 | $148,284 |
| Providence | $163,290 | $160,445 |
| San Diego | $163,190 | $145,853 |
| Atlanta | $161,250 | $161,157 |
| Minneapolis | $159,390 | $152,058 |
| Charlotte | $158,930 | $163,260 |
| Hartford | $158,180 | $153,952 |
| Chicago | $156,770 | $151,330 |
| Sacramento | $155,360 | $145,645 |
| Philadelphia | $154,490 | $150,643 |
| Richmond | $152,190 | $155,521 |
| Buffalo | $150,180 | $156,692 |
| Detroit | $149,980 | $149,534 |
Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.
The national pay range for Human Resources Managers
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.
| Percentile (national) | Annual wage | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $88,200 | Entry / early-career end |
| 25th percentile | $111,110 | |
| Median (50th) | $149,280 | |
| 75th percentile | $199,290 | |
| 90th percentile | $267,810 | Senior / top-market end |
Other MBA-relevant roles in Houston
How to read the Houston number
The $142,110 median means half of Human Resources Managers in the Houston area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 5,890 people in this role in the Houston area. To compare against the state and national picture, see Human Resources Managers nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Human Resources Managers make in Houston?
Human Resources Managers in the Houston metro area earn a median of $142,110 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is -4.8% vs national, ranking Houston #26 of 48 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $142,110 a good salary in Houston?
It depends on local prices. The Houston area price level is 98.6 against a U.S. average of 100, so $142,110 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $144,085 nationally — about $1,975 more than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Houston moves up 2 places — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
Do Human Resources Managers in Houston need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. Human Resources Managers is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in Houston would not be supported by this data.
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