Average Human Resources Specialist Salary in Houston, TX

The average Human Resources Specialist in Houston, TX earns $72,590 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$72590
Median Salary
$63270
vs. National
4.6% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$73599

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Houston’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 98.629, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Human Resources Specialists actually earn in Houston

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $40220
25th $49090
Median $63270
75th $87810
90th (top) $120310

17430 Human Resources Specialists employed in the Houston metro.

Can a Human Resources Specialist afford a home in Houston?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Houston home: $253400.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$40220$16159664%
Median$63270$254206Yes
Top (90th)$120310$483381Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Human Resources Specialist in Houston

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and TX state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Houston at a glance

Population2300419
Median household income$62894
Median home value$253400
Median rent$1313/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)98.629
Bachelor’s degree or higher21.3%
Poverty rate19.4%

In Houston, TX, Human Resources Specialists earn a median of $63,270 a year — about 17% below the U.S. median of $76,060. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #33.

What that pay is worth in Houston

Local prices run 99 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $72,590 salary is about break-even with the national average ($73,599 adjusted).

Can Human Resources Specialists afford a home in Houston?

A typical Houston home runs about $253,400 — 3.5 times the average Human Resources Specialist salary, manageable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,313/mo takes roughly 22% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Human Resources Specialist pay ladder in Houston

Entry-level (10th percentile) Human Resources Specialists earn about $40,220; the top 10% reach $120,310 — a $80,090 spread, wide for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Human Resources Specialist job market in Houston

Houston employs roughly 17,430 Human Resources Specialists. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Houston with other cities

See the full Human Resources Specialist salary by city ranking to weigh Houston against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Human Resources Specialists make in Houston?

The average Human Resources Specialist in Houston, TX earns about $72,590 per year, 4.6% below the national average of $76,060.

What is the take-home pay for Human Resources Specialists in Houston after taxes?

After federal and TX taxes, this $72,590 salary is worth about $59,897 a year - roughly $4,991 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 17%.

What do the highest-paid Human Resources Specialists earn in Houston?

The top 10% of Human Resources Specialists in Houston earn about $120,310 a year, versus about $40,220 for the bottom 10%.

Can Human Resources Specialists afford a home in Houston?

A typical Houston home runs about $253,400 - roughly 3.5x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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