Resources/Job description templates/HR manager
HR Manager Job Description Template (Free, 2027)
A free HR manager job description template with responsibilities, qualifications and a pay range from government data ($149,280 median, May 2025). Copy it, download it as a Word file or print it.
- $149,280median pay
- 6sections
- Freedownload
Free template
- Copy it, download it as a Word file or print it
- Pay range from government data
- Written by recruiters
Quick answer: An HR manager job description should say whether the person leads an HR team or is the senior HR person on their own, which areas they own (policy, employee relations, compensation, compliance, HR systems), how many employees and states they support, and the pay range.
Use this for an HR manager, senior HR manager or first head of people hire. Adjust the scope to match your company size.
HR manager job description
About the role
[Company] is hiring an HR manager to lead HR for [number] employees across [locations]. You will [lead a team of number / be our senior HR leader] and partner with leadership on hiring, performance, pay and culture.
Location: [on site, hybrid or remote]. Reports to: [title].
What you will do
- Own HR policies, the employee handbook and compliance with federal, state and local law
- Advise managers on performance, discipline and employee relations, and lead investigations
- Run the performance review and compensation review cycles
- Oversee benefits, leave and payroll partners
- Lead and coach the HR team [if applicable]
- Choose and manage HR systems and report on headcount, turnover and hiring
- Partner with recruiting on workforce planning and hiring
What you bring
- [5 or more] years of HR experience, including at least [number] years leading HR work or people
- Strong knowledge of US employment law and multi state compliance
- Experience running investigations and difficult conversations
- Comfort with HR data and systems
- A trusted advisor manner with both executives and employees
Nice to have
- HR certification
- Experience growing a company from [size] to [size]
- Experience with acquisitions, restructuring or international employees
Pay and benefits
Pay range: [$ to $] per year [plus bonus]. [Benefits.]
How to apply
Apply at [link]. Tell us about an HR change you led and the result.
Free from Work Insiders. Edit it to fit your team.
What should you pay an HR manager?
The median annual wage for human resources managers was $149,280 in May 2025, with the lowest 10 percent under $88,200 and the highest 10 percent over $267,810, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many states and cities now require a pay range in the job ad, so put one in.
What does an HR manager do?
An HR manager plans and runs the people function: policies, compliance, employee relations, performance and pay. In a company under a few hundred people, the HR manager is often the most senior HR person and still does a lot of hands on work. In larger companies, the HR manager leads generalists and specialists and focuses on strategy and advising leaders.
When should a company hire its first HR manager?
Many companies add a dedicated HR manager somewhere between 50 and 150 employees, when compliance, leave, performance and hiring get too big for a founder or office manager to handle on the side. Federal laws like the FMLA start applying at 50 employees, which is often the trigger.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main responsibilities of an HR manager?
Owning HR policy and compliance, advising managers on employee relations and performance, running review and pay cycles, overseeing benefits and payroll, and often leading the HR team.
How much should I pay an HR manager?
The median annual wage for HR managers was $149,280 in May 2025, per BLS. See HR manager salary for pay by industry.
What experience does an HR manager need?
BLS lists five years or more of related experience as typical, usually as an HR generalist or specialist, plus a bachelor's degree.
What is the difference between an HR manager and an HR director?
Directors usually lead several HR managers or functions and set strategy at the company level. In smaller companies the titles often describe the same job.
Sources
Written by recruiters at Work Insiders. Updated November 4, 2026. How we make money.