Labor Relations Specialists
Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
Also called: Business Agent · Business Representative · Grievance Manager · Labor Relations Specialist · Labor Specialist
Median pay (national)
$93,500
$49,880–$153,440 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
64,590
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-0.1%
~5,100 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for labor relations specialists shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $153,440 versus $49,880 at the bottom 10% — 3.1x. The median of $93,500 leaves roughly 64% 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 -0.1% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 5,100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $124,930, +34% vs the national median), while Arkansas sits lowest at $53,450 — a 134% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension 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 Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
- Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
- Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
- Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
- Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
- Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
- Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment.
- Recommend collective bargaining strategies, goals, or objectives.
- Call or meet with union, company, government, or other interested parties to discuss labor relations matters, such as contract negotiations or grievances.
- Present the position of the company or of labor during arbitration or other labor negotiations.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Oracle HRIS
- ServiceNow
- Workday software
- Kubernetes
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Internet Grievance System IGS
- LaborSoft LaborForce Arbitration/Appeals Manager module
- LaborSoft LaborForce Discipline Manager module
- LaborSoft LaborForce EEO Claims Manager module
- LaborSoft LaborForce Grievance Manager module
- LaborSoft LaborForce Incident Tracking module
- LaborSoft LaborForce Personnel Manager module
Knowledge areas
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics