Human Resources Manager Jobs in Philadelphia, PA
Human resources managers in the Philadelphia area earn a median of about $154,500 a year, and the jobs cluster along Market Street and in University City. Comcast, Penn, SEPTA and the City of Philadelphia are all hiring HR leaders. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to qualify.
Current human resources manager Openings in Philadelphia, PA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Human Resources Manager Work in Philadelphia
Philadelphia's HR jobs follow its biggest employers. Corporate headquarters on and around Market Street in Center City, the university and health system offices in University City, and the public agencies near City Hall all run large HR departments. Because so much of the local workforce sits in "eds and meds" and government, HR managers here spend more time than most on union contracts, civil service rules and large hourly workforces.
That shapes the jobs on offer. SEPTA hires labor relations managers to work its union agreements, the City of Philadelphia hires HR directors for departments such as the Free Library and requires new hires to live in the city within six months, and corporate employers such as Comcast and Aramark hire HR business partners and talent acquisition leaders for national business units run from Philadelphia.
Top Philadelphia Employers Hiring Human Resources Managers
These employers have posted manager-level HR jobs in Philadelphia:
- Comcast - the Center City media and technology company hires HR managers for its Comcast Business and field operations units.
- University of Pennsylvania - the city's largest employer runs HR business partnership teams from the Franklin Building in University City.
- SEPTA - the transit authority hires labor relations managers at its 1234 Market Street headquarters, posted at $107,640 to $134,550.
- City of Philadelphia - city departments hire HR directors, coordinators and labor relations advisors, including a Free Library HR director posted at $125,000 to $135,000.
- Aramark - the food and facilities company headquartered on Market Street hires talent acquisition directors and partners.
- URBN - the parent of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People hires HR business partners for its Philadelphia home office.
Human Resources Manager Salaries in Philadelphia
- Entry level: about $100,000 to $115,000 a year for first-time managers and HR leads at smaller employers.
- Experienced: roughly $115,000 to $155,000 a year for HR managers and senior business partners.
- Senior: $155,000 to $200,000 a year or more for HR directors and executive roles at large employers.
These are estimates based on Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry wage data for the Philadelphia Metropolitan Division and on pay posted by local employers. Public employers post their ranges, while most corporate employers add bonuses that are not posted. Labor relations experience, a SHRM or HRCI certification and the size of the workforce you manage move pay the most.
How to Become a Human Resources Manager in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania has no license for HR managers. Employers ask for a bachelor's degree and usually five or more years of HR experience, often starting as a coordinator or generalist. Temple University's Fox School of Business offers a Human Resource Management BBA on Main Campus on North Broad Street, Penn's College of Liberal and Professional Studies runs a Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics at 3440 Market Street, and Saint Joseph's University offers an online MS in Human Resource Management. Many employers prefer a national certification: SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP from SHRM, or PHR or SPHR from HRCI. Philadelphia SHRM is the local chapter for networking and recertification credits.
What the Job Involves
HR managers run hiring, employee relations, performance reviews, policy and compliance for their part of the business. On a typical day that means advising managers on discipline or accommodation cases, reviewing pay and promotion decisions, working with recruiters on open roles, handling investigations, and keeping records in line with federal, state and local employment law. In unionized workplaces it also means grievances and contract administration.
Skills Employers Look For
- Employee relations and investigations
- Knowledge of federal, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia employment law
- Labor relations and contract administration
- HRIS experience such as Workday
- Coaching and advising senior managers
- Data and reporting skills for workforce metrics
- Discretion with confidential information
Career Path and Advancement
Most Philadelphia HR managers start as HR coordinators, recruiters or generalists, then move up to HR business partner or manager after about five years. From there, the path leads to HR director, labor relations director or head of talent acquisition, and at the largest employers along Market Street and in University City, to vice president or chief people officer.
Related Careers in Philadelphia
If HR leadership interests you, these Philadelphia roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be an HR manager in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania does not license HR managers. Employers look for a bachelor's degree, several years of HR experience and, often, a SHRM or HRCI certification.
How much do HR managers make in Philadelphia?
State wage data puts the median for HR managers in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Division at about $154,500 a year. Posted ranges in the city run from about $107,000 for a SEPTA labor relations manager to $250,000 for an executive HR role at Penn.
Which HR certification do Philadelphia employers prefer?
SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP come from SHRM, and PHR and SPHR come from HRCI. Both are widely recognized, so choose the one your target employers name in their postings.
Do City of Philadelphia HR jobs require city residency?
Many do. City postings commonly require new hires to become Philadelphia residents within six months of starting. Check each posting for its residency rule.
How long does it take to become an HR manager?
Most people reach manager level after about five years in HR roles such as coordinator, recruiter or generalist. A master's degree or certification can shorten that path.
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