A master’s in human resource management program is a highly enriching experience — for your career and for your knowledge base. Students will engage with strategic, high-impact HR concepts in the curriculum and expand their skill sets within and beyond traditional HR knowledge.
Students will also learn alongside peers who bring diverse perspectives and professional experiences, creating a more dynamic learning environment. By learning with and from their peers, HR master’s students will expand their strategic and critical thinking skills, allowing them to solve problems in creative ways.
A Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) is one of the most effective ways to expand your skills and position yourself for leadership and advancement in the HR field. By establishing yourself as a knowledgeable HR leader, you’ll be able to pursue the career path that aligns with your goals.
HR Careers & Industry Outlook
HR professionals are important to every industry in the private and public sectors, so those with a master’s in HR management can find fulfilling and lucrative roles in a variety of organizations.
Because of the universal need for HR professionals across organizations, the field offers steady growth and good job stability. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, both human resources specialist and human resources manager roles are expected to grow through 2033 — 8% and 6%, respectively. On the industry level, the global market for HR management is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.4% through 2030.
For HR professionals, these growth opportunities mean that there will be many opportunities to advance in the field. With growth being driven by technological changes, such as cloud-based HR solutions, AI integrations and data analytics, there is a great opportunity for aspiring HR leaders to develop technical proficiency alongside interpersonal skills and human capital management.
The HR professionals of tomorrow will have the opportunity to be strategic decision-makers, in addition to the heart of an organization’s recruiting, benefits, compensation, compliance and payroll processes.
Jobs With a Master’s in HR Management
| Human Resources Job Title | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Organizational Development Consultants | $106,900 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $111,500 |
| Human Resources Manager | $91,000 |
| Director of Human Resources | $120,100 |
| Director of Learning | $106,800 |
| Chief Learning Officer | $160,500 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $108,300 |
Source: Lightcast
Organizational Development Consultants
Median Annual Salary: $106,900
Organizational development consultants identify opportunities to improve operations, strategy and employee engagement. They are both business and HR experts, so they use business strategy to provide recommendations that improve both culture and organizational effectiveness. Some of their specific tasks include:
- Auditing operational effectiveness
- Identifying skills or knowledge gaps in organizations
- Providing change management support
- Leading team-building exercises
- Aligning employees to the organization’s vision
- Supporting strategic planning initiatives
As organizations grow, organizational development consultants can make a strong impact on an organization’s effectiveness, both operationally and strategically. Through purposeful business development, these consultants will improve the organization so that it can grow and become more effective over time.
Compensation and Benefits Managers
Median Annual Salary: $111,500
Compensation and benefits managers play a critical role by supporting an organization’s employees, contractors and vendors. They ensure that these individuals understand and receive the appropriate compensation and benefits, including:
- Wages or salary
- Bonuses
- Insurance
- Vacation and sick leave
- Retirement or pension plans
In addition to supporting individual employees, these managers will establish an organization’s overall pay and benefits structure, making modifications as needed to stay competitive or follow market trends. As leaders and managers, these professionals will also oversee their direct reports and ensure that compensation is in compliance with regulations.
Human Resources Manager
Median Annual Salary: $91,000
Human resources managers lead the HR teams that keep key organizational functions operating smoothly. HR managers are necessary in small and large organizations, so their responsibilities and the size of their team may vary.
However, most HR managers will be responsible for:
- Implementing procedures and policy
- Delegating HR responsibilities
- Managing team and organizational conflict
- Measuring their team’s success
- Overseeing benefits and compensation
- Monitoring hiring and onboarding across the organization
Director of Human Resources
Median Annual Salary: $120,100
Human resources directors oversee the entire scope of HR operations within an organization. These high-level leaders are responsible for similar tasks as HR managers, but may take on additional responsibilities like:
- Setting HR policy
- Ensuring regulatory compliance
- Outlining HR team job roles and defining team structure
While this role is comparable to the HR manager role, it involves a broader, more strategic approach to the organization's HR efforts.
Chief Learning Officer
Median Annual Salary: $160,500
Chief learning officers are effectively responsible for using employee development to support an organization’s company culture and strategic direction. They play an important role in shaping organizational effectiveness, organizing mass training and hands-on coaching to ensure that every employee is contributing to organizational development through market-relevant skill development.
As executive leaders, CLOs will influence broad business success by linking organizational strategies to learning ones. So, they’re more likely to develop large-scale training initiatives rather than run training themselves.
Director of Learning
Median Annual Salary: $106,800
A director of learning supports training and professional development initiatives, ensuring they are impactful and effective for employees. Unlike chief learning officers who establish strategy and policy, learning directors are typically responsible for implementing and overseeing the progress on initiatives.
Learning directors also may conduct training themselves or coordinate with outside vendors or internal staff who can run development sessions for employees. Given the hands-on nature of the role, these individuals often have strong communication skills in addition to analytical thinking and leadership competencies.
For organizations who only employ a learning director, these professionals often take on additional responsibilities that align with the CLO title.
Labor Relations Specialist
Median Annual Salary: $108,300
Labor relations specialists ensure that employees and employers maintain a positive, conflict-free working environment. By connecting with employees, organizational leaders and union representatives, they support:
- Conflict resolution
- Negotiations
- Compensation disputes
- Company policy revision and development
- Labor law/regulation compliance
- Relevant training materials
By supporting a harmonious working environment for all, labor relations specialists are able to help organizations become more efficient and effective.
Other Opportunities With a Master’s in HR Management
While most individuals seeking a master’s in HR management will be looking to advance to high-level HR leadership positions, not all students will be interested in this career path. For some candidates, an MHRM provides a strong foundation to pivot to high-level strategic business positions, such as business management, entrepreneurship or HR-focused consulting.
A master’s degree in HR management provides you with expertise in considerations relating to human capital and business strategy, so you’ll be prepared to:
- Lead teams
- Boost performance
- Maximize the value of strategic initiatives
- Support resource management
How a Master’s in HR Can Benefit You
MHRM degrees, like nearly all master’s degrees, are a great way to gain the knowledge and skills to set yourself up for a successful career. A master’s in HR management provides you with expertise in every functional area of HR, meaning that you’ll be prepared for roles across the function — including senior-level, management and leadership roles.
In general, master’s degree graduates enjoy better career advancement opportunities, higher salaries and lower rates of unemployment. According to a survey by Career Builder, 33% of employers are hiring workers with master’s degrees for positions that had previously been held by those with four-year degrees.
The HR field is no exception to the rule. With nearly all HR roles growing at a faster than average rate, there are more opportunities than ever in addition to more competition. Only 15% of individuals in the workforce hold an advanced degree, so if you’re one the few who earns a specialized credential like an HR degree, you’ll stand out from the competition and signal to hiring managers that you’re dedicated to your career and are prepared for advanced opportunities.
Elevate Your HR Career With a Master of HR Management From GW Business
Advance your career with the GW School of Business’s Master of Human Resource Management, available online or in-person. Our SHRM-aligned and business-informed master’s in HR management program helps you understand how HR and business strategy work together. Through online courses and weekly live sessions, you’ll gain the skills you need to present HR initiatives and communicate effectively with managers and individual contributors in every department.
We believe in supporting our students through their academic journeys: every student accepted into our summer and fall 2025 online graduate programs will receive an automatic tuition scholarship.
Learn more by requesting a brochure, or start your application today!
Since 1928, GW School of Business students have leveraged our global presence to pursue practical, insightful expertise in the world of business from an enviable vantage point. One of the most diverse cities in the United States, D.C. is home to leading organizations in the health care, hospitality, media, government, defense and technology sectors. Our faculty are thought leaders and educators in these areas and more, and they’re ready to provide you with the business and management expertise you need to succeed.