Also called: HR Director, People Manager
Leads a company's people team: hiring, pay, benefits, training, workplace problems and following employment laws.
You meet with a manager who wants to fire someone and make sure it's fair and legal, review next year's raises, and plan how to hire 50 people for a new location. Your phone buzzes with an employee complaint that needs an investigation.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 8 years after high school. Bachelor's in HR or business plus years of HR experience; SHRM-CP/SCP or PHR certifications common.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Psychology.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Faster than average.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI handles HR paperwork and policy questions; fair firings, investigations and employment-law judgment stay human.
Classes: AP Psychology, Business elective, AP Government, Speech and debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-3121.
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