Employee Relations Salary

Entry-Level Salary

An entry-level position in employee relations typically requires a bachelor's degree in human resources or a related field. The median annual salary for an entry-level employee relations specialist, or an employee relations specialist I, is about $48,700 as of February 2011, according to Salary.com. Those in the middle 50 percent of the earnings scale make $43,170 to $54,840. The bottom 10 percent have salaries below $38,130, and the top 10 percent earn more than $60,430 per year.

An employee relations specialist with two to five years of experience can expect a significant salary increase. The median annual salary for these professionals in February 2011 is about $58,620, with the middle 50-percent range at $51,430 to $66,490. The bottom 10 percent earn less than $44,900 per year, and the top 10 percent more than $73,660.

With further experience, an employee relations specialist can advance to employee relations manager. This manager designs and continually evaluates an organization's program for employee relations, and supervises those who administer the program. The median annual salary for employee relations managers is $88,960 as of February 2011, and the middle 50-percent range is $76,550 to $103,320 per year. The bottom 10 percent have salaries below $65,260, and the top 10 percent are earning $116,380 per year and higher.

The job search website Indeed.com lists job openings for employee relations specialists in February 2011 with many well-known organizations, including Brunswick Bowling and Billiards, Buffalo Wild Wings, CVS Pharmacy, GoDaddy.com, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Qualcomm, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Samsung, Swift Transportation, Texas Children's Hospital and Volkswagen of America. Posted pay rates range from $21 to $39 per hour. The job postings indicate that employee relations specialists receive substantial benefits packages. Some organizations provide 100-percent employer-paid health and dental insurance, and three weeks of paid vacation available in the first year of employment. Other benefits include a 401k or other savings plan, disability and life insurance, and tuition reimbursement.