HRIS Specialist Salary and Career Facts

Research what it takes to become a HRIS specialist. Learn about education requirements, job duties, salary and job outlook to find out if this is the career for you.

What Is an HRIS Specialist?

A human resource information systems (HRIS) specialist uses computer databases to help companies keep track of and improve their human resource departments. This often includes updating employee data and preparing reports. HRIS specialists may also evaluate an information management system and give an organization advice on how well it is running and what they can do to improve its performance. They give direction on the technical aspects of such systems to all staff who are not directly involved with information systems. In turn, they are able to train incoming HR staff to use data systems for HR as well as resolve most technical problems when they arise.

The table below outlines some career facts about this field.

Degree Required	Master's degree
Education Field of Study	Human resources, business management
Key Responsibilities	Ensure that the HR data is accurate and correctly entered into electronic databases; provide reports regarding employees and other employment factors
Job Growth (2020-2030)	10% (for all human resource specialists)*
Median Salary (2021)	$60,223**

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com

What Would My Job Duties Be As an HRIS Specialist?

As a human resource information system specialist, you work with the computer programs and software that organize a company's human resources and personnel records. You might share the duties of many other human resources employees, but you also use your additional training and knowledge of specialized computer programs to approach traditional HR tasks. You work to ensure that the HR data gathered is precise and correctly entered into your databases. You then utilize that data to provide reports regarding the employees and employment factors at your company.

How Should I Prepare For An HRIS Specialist Career?

Many companies hiring an HRIS specialist may want to hire a candidate with both HR education and experience. A 2-year associate's degree program may prepare you to start out on a career path in human resources. Though specific HR degrees are not typical below the master's level, you could take classes in different areas that pertain to work in human resources, such as business management, psychology or behavioral sciences. Because you'll be working with computer systems as an HRIS specialist, you may also want to take some computer classes, particularly those that incorporate database technology.

An internship, either while you're in school or after you've finished your degree, may give you experience in human resources. Such an opportunity can prepare you for work in a human resource department and may bolster your candidacy for an open position. Having internship experience may help you start at a higher position once you enter the workforce and thus allow you to strive for management and senior-level positions more quickly.

What Salary Can I Expect to Make?

PayScale.com lists the median salary for an HRIS specialist in December 2021 as $60,223. An entry-level position in an HR department, which often involves administrative tasks paired with on-the-job learning, might be as an HR assistant. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) reported the median annual wages for HR specialists in 2020 as $63,490.

What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?

If you like working with computers and human resources (HR), you might also like working as an HR coordinator or payroll manager. HR coordinators run the HR office, meaning they must ensure all HR programs are provided to the company, like staffing, benefits, compensation, and so on. They need a bachelor's degree in a related field, like human resources. Payroll managers make sure that payroll systems run properly for the company they work for, and they also oversee payroll staff. They usually need an associate's or bachelor's degree in finance or a related field.