What Does a Human Resources Specialist Do?
When a department creates a new post, the job's classification can be the deciding factor in whether it is paid fairly or whether it lands in the wrong pay grade. And yet managers often rush that step, copying an old description or guessing at a title. The human resources specialist works as a member of the central HR team, giving advice to managers and employees in a university, hospital or company.
Also known as: Senior Human Resources Specialist, Academic Personnel Specialist, Human Resources Team Leader
Human Resources Specialist Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a human resources specialist include:
- Review new and changed position descriptions and assign titles and pay grades.
- Determine whether each job is exempt or nonexempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Process faculty appointments, promotions and tenure paperwork, checking each file against academic policy.
- Advise managers on hiring steps, probation periods and documentation before disciplinary action.
- Administer FMLA and other leave requests, tracking dates and medical certifications.
- Run salary surveys and compare pay with similar employers when grades are reviewed.
- Coordinate H-1B and other work visa paperwork for international faculty and researchers.
- Investigate employee complaints about pay or treatment and recommend a fair resolution.
- Lead a small team of HR assistants and spot-check their data entry for accuracy.
- Explain policy changes in plain language through training sessions and written guides.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a human resources specialist, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Job classification and pay grade analysis
- FLSA, FMLA and equal employment opportunity rules
- HR systems such as Workday, PeopleSoft or Banner HR
- Excel for salary analysis and headcount reports
- SHRM-CP or PHR certification, preferred by many employers
- Sound judgement with sensitive, confidential cases
- Clear writing for policies, letters and guides
- Even-handed manner with managers and staff alike
Education and Training
Entry to the field without a bachelor's degree might be possible, but candidates with a degree in human resources or business will have the advantage over other applicants. Experience as an HR assistant could lead to a specialist post. To reach the senior grades, in many organizations you will want a SHRM-CP or PHR credential to qualify for the step up.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $58,610 - $99,380 per year, with a median of $75,940.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Human Resources Specialists.
According to BLS, growth for human resources specialists is projected at about 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 73,700 openings a year. In fact, so many parts of HR need expert handling that many specialists opt to focus on pay, benefits or academic appointments. Some become HR managers.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Human resources specialists.