Hiring a human resources specialist in Modesto, CA

Employers in the Modesto, CA area pay human resources specialists a median of $77,070, with the middle half of the market between $60,450 and $97,570. Modesto residents working in business and financial operations occupations report a median of $72,685, which is 6% below what the metro pays for this role.

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What does a human resources specialist earn here?

Place of work

What employers pay

Annual wages paid by employers in the Modesto, CA area. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
25th percentile	$60,450
Median	$77,070
75th percentile	$97,570

Half of human resources specialists in this area earn between $60,450 and $97,570. A band set below $60,450 competes for the bottom quarter of the market.

Place of residence

What Modesto residents earn

$72,685

Median earnings of Modesto residents working in business and financial operations occupations, 4,034 people. Census ACS 5-year 2023, tables S2401 and B24011. Where people live, not where they work, so it is not the same measurement as the wages beside it.

The 6% figure is not a pay gap. ACS counts the civilian employed population 16 and over, part-time and part-year work included; OEWS counts wage-and-salary jobs only. The two populations differ, so read this number against other cities rather than as a shortfall: the same definitional difference applies to every city equally, which is what makes a city-to-city reading sound.

The two sit close together, so pay alone is unlikely to be what wins or loses this hire.

What does the role actually involve?

Core tasks

Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork.
Maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Prepare or maintain employment records related to events, such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions, using human resources management system software.
Address employee relations issues, such as harassment allegations, work complaints, or other employee concerns.

O*NET 29.1, task statements for SOC 13-1071.

Tools and technologies in demand

Applicant tracking software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Oracle HRIS, Adobe Acrobat.

O*NET 29.1, flagged in demand or hot for this occupation. Useful as a screen, not as a checklist.

Is the talent actually in Modesto?

This is a job zone four: considerable preparation needed occupation. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

That matters here, because 20.3% of Modesto adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. That is a thin local pool for a degree-requiring role, so expect to recruit across the metro rather than inside the city. Census ACS 5-year 2023, table S1501.

The average Modesto commute runs 29.7 minutes, which is roughly how far your catchment reaches before candidates start saying no. 7.3% already work from home, so a fully onsite requirement here is competing against that.

How often do these jobs turn over?

In Stanislaus County, accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services employs 1,340 and turns over 12.7% a quarter, with 259 hires against 88 separations. Average earnings in that industry run $5,137 a month. Census LEHD Quarterly Workforce Indicators, 2024 Q1, NAICS 5412.

That figure covers every occupation in the industry, not this role alone, so read it as the local churn rate rather than as a number about human resources specialists. It still tells you what you are hiring into: a high-churn market, where speed matters more than a perfect fit.

What does the search cost?

The fee is set by the seniority of the role, never by salary and never by location. Across all six tiers it runs $6,240 to $54,340 per search. A contingency firm hiring at this role's median would bill roughly $15,414 to $23,121 on the first year salary alone.

One owner runs the search from market map to signed offer. Searches typically fill in 23 to 35 days, which is a typical window rather than a promise, and the replacement guarantee runs 45 days at 50% off.

Price this search

Eight questions about the role. Your tier range appears on screen.