Labor Relations Specialists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for labor relations specialists in the U.S. is $95,420 ($45.87 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $95,420
- Mean annual wage
- $98,720
- Median hourly wage
- $45.87
- Employment
- 64,810
64,810 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,490 | $24.27 |
| 25th percentile | $71,920 | $34.58 |
| Median (50th) | $95,420 | $45.87 |
| 75th percentile | $123,420 | $59.34 |
| 90th percentile | $156,180 | $75.09 |
Highest-paying states for labor relations specialists
| State | Median annual wage | 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 |
| New York | $100,500 | 6,860 |
| Virginia | $98,730 | 990 |
Lowest-paying states
- Alabama: $48,120 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $57,900 median annual wage
- Utah: $61,190 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $62,070 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $62,400 median annual wage
About this occupation
Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
Typical tasks
- Provide expert testimony in legal proceedings related to labor relations or labor contracts.
- Train managers or supervisors on topics related to labor relations, such as working conditions, safety, or equal opportunity practices.
- Develop methods to monitor employee satisfaction with policies or working conditions, including grievance or complaint procedures.
- Select mediators or arbitrators for labor disputes or contract negotiations.
- Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
- Write letters related to labor relations activities, such as letters to amend collective bargaining agreements, letters of dispute or conciliation, or letters to seek clarification of contract terms.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.2% |
| Some college, no degree | 15.6% |
| Associate's degree | 7.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 45.8% |
| Master's degree | 18.4% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 2.0% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.