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Career overview · SOC 43-4161

Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping

Compile and keep personnel records. Record data for each employee, such as address, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports, and date of and reason for termination. May prepare reports for employment records, file employment records, or search employee files and furnish information to authorized persons.

Also called: Human Resources Administrative Assistant (HR Administrative Assistant) · Human Resources Assistant (HR Assistant) · Human Resources Associate (HR Associate) · Personnel Clerk

Median pay (national)
$49,440
$36,090–$67,140 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
92,580
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-7.1%
~9,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
Associate's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $67,140 versus $36,090 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $49,440 leaves roughly 36% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -7.1% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 9,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $60,960, +23% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $26,810 — a 127% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Applicant tracking software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Answer questions regarding examinations, eligibility, salaries, benefits, and other pertinent information.
  • Gather personnel records from other departments or employees.
  • Examine employee files to answer inquiries and provide information for personnel actions.
  • Explain company personnel policies, benefits, and procedures to employees or job applicants.
  • Provide assistance in administering employee benefit programs and worker's compensation plans.
  • Prepare and set up for new employee orientations.
  • Search employee files to obtain information for authorized persons and organizations, such as credit bureaus and finance companies.
  • Compile and prepare reports and documents pertaining to personnel activities.
  • Process, verify, and maintain personnel related documentation, including staffing, recruitment, training, grievances, performance evaluations, classifications, and employee leaves of absence.
  • Record data for each employee, including such information as addresses, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports on performance, and dates of and reasons for terminations.

Tools & technology

  • Applicant tracking software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Oracle HRIS
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Oracle PeopleSoft
  • SAP ERP
  • ADP Enterprise HR
  • ADP Workforce Now
  • Blackboard Learn
  • Blackboard Learning System
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Database software

Knowledge areas

  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Administrative
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administration and Management
  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Education and Training
  • Mathematics