Labor relations specialists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,490 | $24.27 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $95,420 | $45.87 |
| Mean (average) | $98,720 | $47.46 |
| 90th percentile | $156,180 | $75.09 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Labor relations specialists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,120 | $17,880 | $96,990 | 590 | 0.67 |
| Alaska | $77,870 | $49,870 | $130,200 | 380 | 2.77 |
| Arizona | $97,070 | $60,230 | $126,420 | 790 | 0.59 |
| Arkansas | $62,070 | $33,500 | $129,800 | 180 | 0.34 |
| California | $105,810 | $53,350 | $172,110 | 8,830 | 1.16 |
| Colorado | $87,150 | $62,240 | $134,520 | 470 | 0.39 |
| Connecticut | $79,620 | $46,480 | $177,150 | 1,240 | 1.76 |
| Delaware | $97,390 | $70,810 | $137,870 | 280 | 1.36 |
| District of Columbia | $115,600 | $81,690 | $160,260 | 160 | 0.55 |
| Florida | $81,700 | $50,200 | $133,240 | 1,970 | 0.47 |
| Georgia | $81,480 | $19,730 | $129,560 | 920 | 0.45 |
| Hawaii | $77,310 | $62,740 | $172,590 | 510 | 1.94 |
| Idaho | $93,110 | $46,830 | $118,570 | 190 | 0.53 |
| Illinois | $104,180 | $63,150 | $144,200 | 3,670 | 1.44 |
| Indiana | $77,190 | $30,550 | $106,450 | 2,600 | 1.95 |
| Iowa | $79,140 | $61,020 | $151,890 | 610 | 0.95 |
| Kansas | $82,750 | $60,560 | $128,490 | 370 | 0.61 |
| Kentucky | $73,550 | $39,220 | $97,860 | 640 | 0.76 |
| Louisiana | $78,110 | $48,550 | $108,140 | 170 | 0.2 |
| Maine | $96,680 | $56,660 | $140,350 | 210 | 0.8 |
| Maryland | $94,030 | $63,760 | $145,430 | 890 | 0.77 |
| Massachusetts | $111,260 | $61,530 | $161,860 | 1,660 | 1.1 |
| Michigan | $73,760 | $36,200 | $121,500 | 2,430 | 1.33 |
| Minnesota | $100,760 | $75,950 | $152,530 | 1,710 | 1.39 |
| Mississippi | $79,360 | $45,060 | $120,610 | 200 | 0.41 |
| Missouri | $93,840 | $60,650 | $136,560 | 1,190 | 0.97 |
| Montana | $70,360 | $55,890 | $123,860 | 160 | 0.74 |
| Nebraska | $81,910 | $55,140 | $121,050 | 270 | 0.64 |
| Nevada | $77,240 | $59,910 | $140,710 | 610 | 0.95 |
| New Hampshire | $84,780 | $35,820 | $158,300 | 150 | 0.53 |
| New Jersey | $118,370 | $73,150 | $167,350 | 3,700 | 2.07 |
| New Mexico | $83,770 | $57,850 | $135,810 | 120 | 0.34 |
| New York | $100,500 | $59,160 | $170,210 | 6,860 | 1.7 |
| North Carolina | $86,270 | $59,280 | $123,590 | 690 | 0.33 |
| North Dakota | $101,220 | $65,370 | $124,610 | 90 | 0.51 |
| Ohio | $80,150 | $46,660 | $127,010 | 4,100 | 1.77 |
| Oklahoma | $62,400 | $43,070 | $116,230 | 250 | 0.35 |
| Oregon | $80,490 | $51,360 | $152,320 | 1,210 | 1.48 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,320 | $56,400 | $164,880 | 3,470 | 1.37 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,830 | $26,210 | $72,940 | 120 | 0.3 |
| Rhode Island | $88,030 | $34,190 | $140,180 | 410 | 1.95 |
| South Carolina | $78,050 | $18,990 | $128,010 | 340 | 0.36 |
| South Dakota | $57,900 | $49,270 | $158,800 | 100 | 0.53 |
| Tennessee | $76,930 | $29,570 | $141,290 | 560 | 0.41 |
| Texas | $79,640 | $42,040 | $135,340 | 2,590 | 0.44 |
| Utah | $61,190 | $42,040 | $128,120 | 250 | 0.34 |
| Vermont | $85,870 | $62,290 | $140,380 | 120 | 0.94 |
| Virginia | $98,730 | $60,650 | $146,280 | 990 | 0.58 |
| Washington | $104,100 | $60,080 | $185,530 | 2,760 | 1.86 |
| West Virginia | $88,020 | $65,500 | $135,250 | 420 | 1.43 |
| Wisconsin | $95,750 | $48,440 | $148,030 | 1,690 | 1.38 |
| Wyoming | $87,310 | $56,810 | $126,790 | 60 | 0.49 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for labor relations specialists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for labor relations specialists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Dispute Resolution CIP 30.2801
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General CIP 52.1001
- Labor and Industrial Relations CIP 52.1002
- Labor Studies CIP 52.1004
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
- Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
- Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
- Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
- Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
- Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
- Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.
- Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- ServiceNow (in demand)
- Workday software (in demand)
- Oracle HRIS (in demand)
- Kubernetes (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
- Internet Grievance System IGS
- LaborSoft LaborForce Arbitration/Appeals Manager module
- LaborSoft LaborForce Discipline Manager module
- LaborSoft LaborForce EEO Claims Manager module
Transferable skills for career changers: Negotiation, Persuasion, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination.
Common job titles: Business Agent, Business Representative, Grievance Manager, Labor Relations Specialist, Labor Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do labor relations specialists make?
The national median annual wage for labor relations specialists was $95,420 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $50,490 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $156,180. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do labor relations specialists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is labor relations specialists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of labor relations specialists to change +2.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay labor relations specialists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Jersey ($118,370), District of Columbia ($115,600), Massachusetts ($111,260). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.