Labor Relations Specialist Salary
Labor Relations Specialists earn a median $95,420 a year nationally. Business and Financial Operations Occupations
U.S. median
$95,420
$45.88 per hour
Range
$50,490 – $156,180
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
64,810
across the U.S.
▲2.1%
Pay trend: The median for labor relations specialists in the U.S. rose from $93,500 (May 2024) to $95,420 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What labor relations specialists do
Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.1% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 4,800
- Self-employed
- 1%
Employment of labor relations specialists is projected to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 4,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Labor Relations Specialist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$75,958
per year · effective tax rate 20.4%
$6,330Monthly
$3,165Twice a month
$2,921Every 2 weeks
$36.52Hourly
- Federal income tax$12,162
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,916
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,384
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$75,958
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,490 | $24.27 | $42,749 |
| 25th percentile | $71,920 | $34.58 | $59,426 |
| Median (50th) | $95,420 | $45.88 | $75,958 |
| 75th percentile | $123,420 | $59.34 | $95,624 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,180 | $75.09 | $118,015 |
Best cities for labor relations specialists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $103,570 | $76,710 | $74,048 | 3,090 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $107,470 | $79,135 | $70,303 | 6,930 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $102,980 | $74,590 | $65,680 | 3,300 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $107,470
- Chicago, IL — $103,570
- Los Angeles, CA — $102,980
Labor Relations Specialist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $118,370 | −0.5% | $86,753 | $73,150 – $167,350 | 3,700 |
| District of Columbia | $115,600 | −7.5% | $83,297 | $81,690 – $160,260 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $111,260 | +14.1% | $81,758 | $61,530 – $161,860 | 1,660 |
| California | $105,810 | +0.5% | $76,281 | $53,350 – $172,110 | 8,830 |
| Illinois | $104,180 | +9.6% | $77,109 | $63,150 – $144,200 | 3,670 |
| Washington | $104,100 | −3.7% | $82,064 | $60,080 – $185,530 | 2,760 |
| North Dakota | $101,220 | −4.1% | $79,324 | $65,370 – $124,610 | 90 |
| Minnesota | $100,760 | +5.4% | $74,386 | $75,950 – $152,530 | 1,710 |
| New York | $100,500 | +2.3% | $74,643 | $59,160 – $170,210 | 6,860 |
| Virginia | $98,730 | +6.8% | $73,424 | $60,650 – $146,280 | 990 |
| Delaware | $97,390 | +6.0% | $72,257 | $70,810 – $137,870 | 280 |
| Arizona | $97,070 | +26.4% | $74,901 | $60,230 – $126,420 | 790 |
| Maine | $96,680 | +1.0% | $71,427 | $56,660 – $140,350 | 210 |
| Wisconsin | $95,750 | +11.8% | $72,496 | $48,440 – $148,030 | 1,690 |
| Maryland | $94,030 | −1.5% | $70,877 | $63,760 – $145,430 | 890 |
| Missouri | $93,840 | −0.1% | $71,373 | $60,650 – $136,560 | 1,190 |
| Idaho | $93,110 | +10.7% | $70,506 | $46,830 – $118,570 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,320 | +15.1% | $70,270 | $56,400 – $164,880 | 3,470 |
| Rhode Island | $88,030 | +21.7% | $68,075 | $34,190 – $140,180 | 410 |
| West Virginia | $88,020 | −8.7% | $67,444 | $65,500 – $135,250 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $87,310 | −10.6% | $70,253 | $56,810 – $126,790 | 60 |
| Colorado | $87,150 | +6.1% | $67,014 | $62,240 – $134,520 | 470 |
| North Carolina | $86,270 | −2.3% | $66,587 | $59,280 – $123,590 | 690 |
| Vermont | $85,870 | +2.9% | $66,032 | $62,290 – $140,380 | 120 |
| New Hampshire | $84,780 | −20.1% | $68,473 | $35,820 – $158,300 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $83,770 | −16.6% | $64,988 | $57,850 – $135,810 | 120 |
| Kansas | $82,750 | +13.3% | $63,227 | $60,560 – $128,490 | 370 |
| Nebraska | $81,910 | +0.7% | $63,606 | $55,140 – $121,050 | 270 |
| Florida | $81,700 | +6.8% | $66,306 | $50,200 – $133,240 | 1,970 |
| Georgia | $81,480 | +7.3% | $62,545 | $19,730 – $129,560 | 920 |
| Oregon | $80,490 | −22.0% | $59,241 | $51,360 – $152,320 | 1,210 |
| Ohio | $80,150 | +4.3% | $63,794 | $46,660 – $127,010 | 4,100 |
| Texas | $79,640 | +2.4% | $64,857 | $42,040 – $135,340 | 2,590 |
| Connecticut | $79,620 | −17.7% | $62,039 | $46,480 – $177,150 | 1,240 |
| Mississippi | $79,360 | +10.9% | $62,217 | $45,060 – $120,610 | 200 |
| Iowa | $79,140 | +1.1% | $62,149 | $61,020 – $151,890 | 610 |
| Louisiana | $78,110 | +3.8% | $61,823 | $48,550 – $108,140 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $78,050 | +25.1% | $60,212 | $18,990 – $128,010 | 340 |
| Alaska | $77,870 | −37.6% | $63,612 | $49,870 – $130,200 | 380 |
| Hawaii | $77,310 | −24.3% | $58,872 | $62,740 – $172,590 | 510 |
| Nevada | $77,240 | +2.0% | $63,168 | $59,910 – $140,710 | 610 |
| Indiana | $77,190 | −5.7% | $60,886 | $30,550 – $106,450 | 2,600 |
| Tennessee | $76,930 | +15.4% | $62,950 | $29,570 – $141,290 | 560 |
| Michigan | $73,760 | −6.2% | $57,836 | $36,200 – $121,500 | 2,430 |
| Kentucky | $73,550 | +19.0% | $58,116 | $39,220 – $97,860 | 640 |
| Montana | $70,360 | +9.3% | $55,714 | $55,890 – $123,860 | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $62,400 | −24.0% | $50,056 | $43,070 – $116,230 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $62,070 | +16.1% | $49,845 | $33,500 – $129,800 | 180 |
| Utah | $61,190 | −33.3% | $49,559 | $42,040 – $128,120 | 250 |
| South Dakota | $57,900 | −25.9% | $48,703 | $49,270 – $158,800 | 100 |
| Alabama | $48,120 | −14.6% | $38,703 | $17,880 – $96,990 | 590 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | Bachelor's degree | +6.4% |
| Farm Labor Contractor | $58,460 | No formal educational credential | +7.4% |
| Management Analyst | $101,860 | Bachelor's degree | +10.1% |
| Project Management Specialist | $102,320 | Bachelor's degree | +6.7% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | Bachelor's degree | +3.9% |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $82,890 | Bachelor's degree | +9.7% |
| Logistician | $82,320 | Bachelor's degree | +17.6% |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | Bachelor's degree | +3.8% |
| Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist | $78,760 | Bachelor's degree | +7.0% |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | Bachelor's degree | -3.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a labor relations specialist make?
The national median salary for labor relations specialists is $95,420 a year ($45.88 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,490 and the top 10% earn over $156,180. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays labor relations specialists the most?
New Jersey has the highest median pay at $118,370. After taxes and local prices, Chicago, IL offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many labor relations specialists are there in the U.S.?
About 64,810 people work as labor relations specialists nationwide.