Wondering what job opportunities you can pursue with Ottawa University’s online Master of Arts in Human Resources? There are plenty to be sure as the MAHR prepares you for the full range of human resource careers. Furthermore, the growth potential of this career path - in Kansas City and beyond - is highly appealing when you consider that a growing population means a growing workforce, which in turn means a growing need for human resource professionals.
Rewarding Career Paths in Human Resources
A career in human resources can be invigorating and fulfilling. HR professionals are responsible for seeking out talented people, organizing them into functional teams, motivating and challenging them to achieve results. In a word, an HR career can be gratifying. Beyond gratification, HR can be financially lucrative as well. In some industries, human resources positions are among the best-paying.
So, with all that in mind, here’s the ultimate question for a person holding a human resources masters degree: What are the highest-paying HR job opportunities in Kansas City and the Midwest at large? They range in median salary from $45,570 to $157, 945 annually. Seven of the top HR jobs are outlined below:
Employee Recruitment & Placement Specialists
In charge of finding the right people for the right jobs, employee recruitment and placement specialists are skilled at attracting the best available job candidates and screening them on their merits for specific positions within the company. They typically handle every step of the hiring process, from meeting with managers to assess needs to placing hiring ads and conducting initial interviews. The median average wage for an employee recruitment and placement specialist is $45,750. The lowest 10% earned less than $33,500, and the highest 10% earned more than $71,000.
Labor Relations Specialist
Labor relations specialists make sure organizations abide by local, state, and federal labor laws. They use their expertise in labor law and corresponding issues to ensure compliance with legal mandates with the express purpose of avoiding labor-related lawsuits or problems. For organizations using union labor, labor relations specialists are typically the liaison between the organization and the union(s). The median average wage for a labor relations specialist was $70,225 in August 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $53,850, and the highest 10% earned more than $99,850.
Executive Recruiter
An executive recruiter’s main responsibility is filling job vacancies with the right person, primarily within the level of senior executives, for example, vice presidents or CEOs. They are primarily responsible for overseeing the recruiting and vetting process for new candidates, identifying candidates in online marketplaces, reaching out to those who are qualified, conducting interviews and background checks and presenting dossiers of approved candidates to management. The median average wage for an Executive Recruiter was $97,900 in August 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $82,500, and the highest 10% earned more than $115,500.
Training & Development Manager
Managing an organization's employees and creating programs for employees to make sure they stay up-to-date on new skills is the key role of a training and development manager. They may coordinate a program to instruct employees on how comply with a new company policy or to learn new software being implemented. These professionals also may plan programs for employees to develop their interpersonal skills and their ability to be effective and efficient employees. The median annual wage for training and development managers was $113,350 in May 2019. The lowest 10% earned less than $64,720, and the highest 10% earned more than $196,070.
Human Resources Manager/Director
An HR manager or director is skilled and knowledgeable in all facets of human resources. In smaller and mid-size companies, they typically run the HR department and advise upper management or ownership on HR strategies that can help meet future goals. In large organizations, there may be more than one HR manager or director who reports to a corporate vice president. In these situations, the managers/directors may oversee a specific HR department, like recruiting, training, or compensation and benefits. The median annual wage for human resources managers was $116,720 in May 2019. The lowest 10% earned less than $68,300, and the highest 10% earned more than $205,720.
Compensation & Benefits Manager
Compensation and benefits managers use labor market and insurance market expertise to help organizations compete for top talent by designing competitive compensation packages and selecting employee benefit programs. In addition, they coordinate and supervise the work activities of staff, research employee motives, implement and tailor rewards and benefit programs based on staff needs. The median annual wage for compensation and benefits managers was $122,270 in May 2019. The lowest 10% earned less than $69,870, and the highest 10% earned more than $208,000.
Vice President of Human Resources/Chief HR Officer
The vice president of human resources - or chief HR officer - is the highest HR position in a company. They oversee all HR functions in the company. As such, they are ultimately responsible for ensuring that every aspect from recruitment to training to benefits and labor relations is fully functional. The HR VP is part of the executive team and, as such, have a thorough understanding of the company’s strategic vision. They in turn transform this vision into workable policies which can be executed by employees, and are solely responsible for formulating HR policies, and overseeing their implementation. The median annual wage for vice presidents of Human Resources was $157,945 in May 2019. The lowest 10% earned less than $79,000, and the highest 10% earned more than $227,500.
Job Outlook for Human Resources
Data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that employers nationwide are expected to add nearly 45,000 human resource managers and specialists from now through 2028. Add in the thousands of jobs available for other HR professionals and that’s a lot of opportunity! This is particularly the case for those who have earned an online Master of Arts in Human Resources degree and have gained the strategic, organizational, managerial, and analytical skills that today’s employers are seeking.
Online HR Degrees
If one these job opportunities appeal to you and fit your career goals, then you should consider pursuing Ottawa University's online Master of Arts in Human Resources. With a human resources graduate degree, you will have career and advancement opportunities in nearly every industry imaginable. To learn more about the online MAHR at Ottawa University, contact us today!
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