Average Human Resources Specialist Salary in Raleigh, NC

The average Human Resources Specialist in Raleigh, NC earns $76,020 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$76020
Median Salary
$64370
vs. National
0.1% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$77447

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Raleigh’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 98.157, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Human Resources Specialists actually earn in Raleigh

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

10th (entry) $44230
25th $50790
Median $64370
75th $89150
90th (top) $125360

5400 Human Resources Specialists employed in the Raleigh metro.

Can a Human Resources Specialist afford a home in Raleigh?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Raleigh home: $377800.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$44230$17770747%
Median$64370$25862568%
Top (90th)$125360$503670Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Human Resources Specialist in Raleigh

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and NC 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.

Raleigh at a glance

Population470763
Median household income$82424
Median home value$377800
Median rent$1468/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)98.157
Bachelor’s degree or higher32.5%
Poverty rate11%

In Raleigh, NC, Human Resources Specialists earn a median of $64,370 a year — about 15% below the U.S. median of $76,060. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #29.

What that pay is worth in Raleigh

Local prices run 98 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $76,020 salary is about break-even with the national average ($77,447 adjusted).

Can Human Resources Specialists afford a home in Raleigh?

A typical Raleigh home runs about $377,800 — 5.0 times the average Human Resources Specialist salary, manageable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,468/mo takes roughly 23% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Human Resources Specialist pay ladder in Raleigh

Entry-level (10th percentile) Human Resources Specialists earn about $44,230; the top 10% reach $125,360 — a $81,130 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 Raleigh

Raleigh employs roughly 5,400 Human Resources Specialists. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Raleigh with other cities

See the full Human Resources Specialist salary by city ranking to weigh Raleigh 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 Raleigh?

The average Human Resources Specialist in Raleigh, NC earns about $76,020 per year, 0.1% below the national average of $76,060.

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

After federal and NC taxes, this $76,020 salary is worth about $59,785 a year - roughly $4,982 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 21%.

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

The top 10% of Human Resources Specialists in Raleigh earn about $125,360 a year, versus about $44,230 for the bottom 10%.

Can Human Resources Specialists afford a home in Raleigh?

A typical Raleigh home runs about $377,800 - roughly 5.0x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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