Hiring an HR specialist: the market today
The short answer ·
266 open postings ask for an HR specialist as of Nov 11, 2026, from 168 employers. The median advertised pay is $85,882, taking the midpoint of each posted range. 200 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.
Who you're competing with
Open postings · Ayla, Nov 11, 2026
What it pays
Advertised pay (range midpoints), 231 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Sep 2026
Questions buyers ask
How hard is it to hire an HR specialist?
Hard. 168 employers are hiring the role right now, led by State of Hawaii with 14 open postings.
What should I pay an HR specialist?
Advertised pay centers on $85,882. Federal staff in series 0201 average $124,791 in actual pay.
Where is an HR specialist being hired?
As of Nov 11, 2026, the most open postings for the role are in California (36), the District of Columbia (28) and Hawaii (21). Together they hold 32% of its 266 open postings.
Who can help me hire an HR specialist?
Ayla's recruiters, for government agencies and contractors. Send the role for a free market brief within two business days, then interview the people we find; you pay a placement fee when you hire.