Average Labor Relations Specialists Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Labor Relations Specialists is $95,420 per year. The middle 50% earn between $71,920 and $123,420, with 64,810 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 51 states and 192 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Labor Relations Specialists pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $50,490
- 25th
- $71,920
- Median
- $95,420
- 75th
- $123,420
- 90th
- $156,180
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Pay is well above the national median for all US workers. This is an upper-income occupation.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two labor relations specialists at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for labor relations specialists from 2024 to 2034. This occupation is projected to shrink. Workers may face more competition for fewer openings, and the role may see automation or consolidation pressure.
- Projected growth
- -0.1%
- -100 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 5,100
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave.
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement for labor relations specialists.
Where Labor Relations Specialists earn the most
Location matters for pay. The top-paying state is noticeably above the national median, so relocating to a higher-paying market can meaningfully boost earnings. Right now, the top-paying state is New Jersey at $118,370, about 24.1% above the national median. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with a median of $133,270.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $118,370 | 3,700 |
| District of Columbia | $115,600 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $111,260 | 1,660 |
| California | $105,810 | 8,830 |
| Illinois | $104,180 | 3,670 |
| Washington | $104,100 | 2,760 |
| North Dakota | $101,220 | 90 |
| Minnesota | $100,760 | 1,710 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $133,270 | 510 |
| Vallejo, CA | $131,680 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $128,320 | 40 |
| Bellingham, WA | $126,160 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $124,400 | 2,000 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $119,200 | 1,990 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $118,520 | 1,280 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $115,940 | 160 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see labor relations specialists pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2025, the national median salary for Labor Relations Specialists rose from $69,020 to $95,420, a gain of +38.2% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +25.9%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $69,020 would need to be worth $86,915 in 2025 dollars.
The actual 2025 median of $95,420 is $8,505 above that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of +9.8% in purchasing power.
Real wages have grown strongly, 9.8% above inflation. Workers in this field have meaningfully gained purchasing power.
- Nominal change
- +38.2%
- 2019–2025
- Cumulative inflation
- +25.9%
- US CPI, 2019–2025
- Real change
- +9.8%
- After adjusting for inflation
Median salary over time
Labor Relations Specialists median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $95,420
- 2024
- $93,500
- 2023
- $89,980
- 2022
- $82,010
- 2021
- $77,010
- 2020
- $73,240
- 2019
- $69,020
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2018, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Project Management Specialists
- $102,320
- Logisticians
- $82,320
- Compliance Officers
- $80,730
- Cost Estimators
- $78,740
- Buyers And Purchasing Agents
- $77,710
Common salary questions for Labor Relations Specialists
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Labor Relations Specialists workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.