National Average Salary

• The mean national salary of an employee relations specialist was $59,000 as of May 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national median wage for this occupation is $56,500 per year or $27 per hour. The lowest 10 percent in this occupation earn approximately $27,000 and the top 10 percent earn $95,000 on average.
  
  

Industry

• The industry can affect the average pay. The petroleum and coal manufacturing industry offers the highest salary for employee relations specialists as of 2010 with an average annual wage of $85,000. Other industries that offer high pay for this line of work are computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing, $83,000; federal executive branch, $79,000; oil and gas extraction, $79,000; and natural gas distribution, $78,000.
  
  

Location

• The District of Colombia is the location offering the highest average salary for this occupation, at an average $93,000. Other locations that offer high pay are Maryland, $71,000; Virginia, $69,000; California, $69,000; and New Jersey, $68,000.
  
  

Job Outlook

• Because of their ability to resolve and prevent internal conflicts, the demand for employee relations specialists is increasing as legislation affecting occupational health and safety and equal employment opportunity continues to change. As of 2008, there were approximately 224,600 workers employed in this field. The BLS predicts that the total number of jobs will increase by 21 percent by 2018, bringing the total number of jobs to 271,900.