Mid-Level

Personnel Technician

Personnel technicians handle the procedural and technical work in HR — data entry, system administration, processing routine actions, and supporting the broader HR team.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
S
I
R
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Personnel Technicians
Employment concentration · ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Personnel Technician

A typical day involves steady processing work — entering personnel actions, updating records, processing benefits enrollments, and handling routine requests. Reporting work runs alongside.

Collaboration involves employees, HR specialists, payroll, and benefits vendors. What's harder than expected is the precision required — HR data errors create real problems for people's pay and benefits.

Those who thrive tend to be methodical, accurate, and discreet. If you find satisfaction in clean HR processes that support people well, the role often fits.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
AchievementModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
IndependenceLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Personnel Technicians (SOC 13-1071.00, 43-3051.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Also appears in: Admin & Office
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$37K–$127K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
1.1M
U.S. Employment
-5.25%
10yr Growth
95K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingActive ListeningService OrientationSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
13-1071.0043-3051.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.