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Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping

Typical education: Associate degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Compile and keep personnel records. Record data for each employee, such as address, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports, and date of and reason for termination. May prepare reports for employment records, file employment records, or search employee files and furnish information to authorized persons.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $50,610 Median per year · $24.33/hr Most earn $37,340–$68,280

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Search employee files to obtain information for authorized persons and organizations, such as credit bureaus and finance companies.
  • Compile and prepare reports and documents pertaining to personnel activities.
  • Prepare badges, passes, and identification cards, and perform other security-related duties.
  • Examine employee files to answer inquiries and provide information for personnel actions.
  • Record data for each employee, including such information as addresses, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports on performance, and dates of and reasons for terminations.
  • Explain company personnel policies, benefits, and procedures to employees or job applicants.

Job outlook

United States
6% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 7,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service8.5%
  • Management of companies and enterprises7.3%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals5.7%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals4.9%
  • Temporary help services4.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Human Resources Assistant is usually reached after an associate degree and about 1 to 2 years of related office work, so it isn't a job you can usually start straight out of high school. Most people reach it roughly 3 to 4 years after graduating high school.

  1. High school diploma, with strong typing, computer, and writing skills

    4 years

    Good grades and office-skills classes build the basics you need for an associate degree program and entry-level office work.

  2. Associate degree in human resources, business administration, or office administration

    2 years

    This two-year program teaches recordkeeping, employment law basics, and office software, which is the education most HR Assistant jobs expect.

  3. Administrative Assistant

    1-2 years

    You learn to handle files, data entry, scheduling, and confidential information, which are the daily skills HR Assistants use to keep employee records.

  4. Human Resources Assistant

    Career goal

    You keep and update personnel records, prepare employment reports, and provide information to authorized staff.

Where it can lead

  1. Human Resources Specialist

    4-6 years of experience first

    Specialists handle hiring, employee relations, and HR policy work, and this role usually asks for a bachelor's degree, so many HR Assistants finish one while working.

  2. First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers

    4-6 years of experience first

    You move from doing the records work to leading a team of office staff, scheduling their work and checking their results.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take business, computer, and typing classesThese build office skills like data entry, spreadsheets, and document formatting that HR Assistants use every day.
  • Join a school club like DECA or a student governmentClubs teach teamwork, leadership, and professional communication, which are useful in any HR office.
  • Get a starter job or volunteer in an officeHelping at a school front office, library, or nonprofit gives you early experience with records, schedules, and confidential information.
  • Practice writing clearlyHR work includes writing reports and forms, so strong English and clear writing will help you in future courses and jobs.

In college

  • Major in human resources, business administration, or office administrationThese programs cover recordkeeping, employment basics, and workplace policies that HR Assistant work relies on.
  • Take a course in employment law or workplace communication if your school offers oneKnowing basic rules about employee records and privacy helps you handle files correctly from day one.
  • Work a campus job in an admissions, HR, or student records officeCampus offices handle real records and confidential information, which gives you the 1-2 years of related experience employers look for.
  • Learn spreadsheet and HR software skillsMany colleges offer free or low-cost software training, and proficiency in these tools shows up in job ads for this role.
  • Join a professional or student group in business or HRGroups like a campus HR or business club help you meet people in the field and learn about internships.

Tips for getting started

  • Learn common HR software and spreadsheets, since most employee-record work is done in digital systems and job ads often ask for these skills.
  • Ask about part-time or temporary office jobs at a school, clinic, or local business to get the 1-2 years of work experience employers usually expect.
  • Keep records of your work, such as files you organized or data you entered accurately, so you can show reliability in interviews. Confidentiality matters a lot in HR, so practice handling private information responsibly.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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