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Careers›Roles›Personnel Worker
Mid-Level

Personnel Worker

A Personnel Worker typically runs operational HR transactions and employee-facing service — records, benefits, personnel actions — usually in a generalist support capacity within an HR team.

Personnel Worker pay typically runs $56K–$97K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to grow 6% through 2034.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
S
I
A
R
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Personnel Workers
Administrative Services · 19%Professional Services · 15%Healthcare · 11%Government · 10%Manufacturing · 7%Financial Services · 5%
Job markets for Personnel Workers
Where Personnel Worker jobs concentrate · ~392 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Business Operations
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers

While you’re learning about the Personnel Worker role, anything we can help you with this week?

What it's like

What it's like to be a Personnel Worker

Daily rhythm involves transaction processing, employee inquiries, document handling, and coordination with HR specialists. You'll often work inside HR systems handling a wide mix of routine tasks. Pacing tends to follow personnel cycles, with predictable peaks around payroll and benefits.

The breadth of small tasks can surprise newcomers — operational HR involves many small, accuracy-sensitive tasks rather than fewer big ones. Coordination with HR specialists, payroll, IT, and employees is constant. Confidentiality discipline shapes every interaction.

People who thrive here typically have steady accuracy, comfort with structured systems, and reliable follow-through. Friendly composure under volume usually matters more than any specific HR background.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
IndependenceModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns

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Career Paths

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

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$101K+9%
Energy & Utilities$100K+8%
Professional Services$98K+6%
Financial Services$83K-11%
Government$76K-17%
Compared to Business Operations average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Personnel Workers (SOC 13-1071.00), 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.
Related rolesExplore Business Operations →
Personnel WorkerPersonnel OfficerPersonnel ClerkHR Ops Manager (Human Resources Operations Manager)Personnel AssociateCompensation Program ManagerEmployee CounselorHR Coordinator (Human Resources Coordinator)Talent Acquisition CoordinatorHR Recruiter (Human Resources Recruiter)Executive RecruiterJob DeveloperHR Tech (Human Resources Technician)Employee Placement SpecialistRecruiting CoordinatorTalent Acquisition Partner (TAP)Job Placement SpecialistCareer Development TechnicianStudent RecruiterPersonnel CoordinatorWorkforce Staffing AdvisorPersonnel TechnicianContract RecruiterSourcing RecruiterJob Recruiter+1 more

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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.

$45K–$127K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
917K
U.S. Employment
+6.2%
10yr Growth
82K
Annual Openings

How Personnel Worker pay & employment are changing

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

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
13-1071.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

directorPersonnel Director$140KmidPersonnel Officer$61KmidPersonnel Clerk$52KmidHR Ops Manager (Human Resources Operations Manager)$140KmidPersonnel Associate$49KmidCompensation Program Manager$140K
View all Business Operations roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Personnel Worker

What does a Personnel Worker do?

A Personnel Worker typically runs operational HR transactions and employee-facing service — records, benefits, personnel actions — usually in a generalist support capacity within an HR team.

How much does a Personnel Worker make?

Median pay for a Personnel Worker is about $73K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $45K to $127K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Personnel Worker need?

Core skills for this role include Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Writing, and Critical Thinking.

What education do you need to be a Personnel Worker?

Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.

Is a Personnel Worker in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 6.2% through 2034, with roughly 917,460 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Personnel Worker?

Closely related roles include Personnel Director, Personnel Officer, and Personnel Clerk.

Career advice

Personnel Worker career advice

Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.

  • Simple exerciseSee what the job you already have is telling you about what you want.Notice what you love, hate and wish for at work
  • Simple exerciseLearn how each person on your team likes to be managed, and tell them how you work too.Learn how each person likes to work
  • Simple exerciseCheck your curiosity about another industry against what the work is really like.Test two industries you've wondered about
  • Simple exerciseUnderstand what your manager is working toward, so your work can help them get there.Learn your manager's goals

Swipe for more

More career advice

  • Tell your new team how you'll ramp up
  • Give your manager feedback, carefully
  • Start the day before you open your inbox
  • End every meeting with owners and dates
  • Set a weekly job search rhythm
  • Check yourself for early signs of burnout
  • Respond to feedback you disagree with
  • Ask what would make them glad to pay you more

We believe careers grow through small steps taken often, more than big leaps. So we’ve collected hundreds of them for you to try.

Browse career advice

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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.

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