HR Salary Guide

2027 Human Resources Salary Guide

What should you pay, or earn, in HR in 2027?

Minneapolis · Upper Midwest · National

HR leaders aren't just managing change anymore. They're redesigning the org chart. As AI reshapes how jobs are built, measured, and filled, HR sits at the center of nearly every workforce decision. At the same time, pay transparency laws, flat compensation budgets, and a tight Minnesota labor market are raising the stakes on every offer.

SkyWater's 2027 Human Resources Salary Guide gives you real-world salary ranges for 22 roles, from HR coordinators to CHROs, in the Greater Minneapolis market. Each range is broken out by company size and paired with the context you need to build offers, plan budgets, and navigate your next move with confidence.

Hear What's Shaping HR Pay in 2027

Andrea Anderson, Managing Director of SkyWater's Human Resources practice, shares what the team is seeing in the market and what it means for employers and candidates heading into 2027.

What's Inside the 2027 Guide

• Salary ranges for 22 roles across leadership, management, and individual contributor levels, including CHRO, VP of HR, total rewards, talent acquisition, HR business partners, HRIS, benefits, payroll, and HR generalists.
• Ranges by company size for small ($0 to $50M), medium ($51M to $500M), and large ($501M+) organizations.
• Five indicators for every role: Minneapolis vs. national pay, compensation direction, hiring demand, and AI impact over the next three to five years, alongside the salary range.
• Seven trends to watch in 2027, including the rebuilding of job architecture, Minnesota's pay transparency law, the rise of private equity-backed HR leadership, and the growing problem of fake candidates.
• SkyWater placement data showing five years of HR hiring and salary trends.
• Practical advice for employers and candidates on keeping the human in an increasingly AI-driven hiring process.

Key Findings for 2027

• Total rewards and HR technology are gaining ground. Head of Total Rewards, Compensation Manager, HRIS, and HR Transformation roles show rising compensation, while DEI roles are trending down.
• AI is reshaping HR at every level. Even CHRO and VP of HR roles carry high AI impact ratings, as AI fluency becomes a baseline expectation for leading change across the organization.
• Pay budgets are holding steady. 2027 salary increases are projected at around 3.4 to 3.6% nationally, while Minnesota employers have been required to post salary ranges since January 2025.
• Minnesota's labor supply remains tight. The state's labor force grew just 0.2% annually from 2019 to 2024, ranking 40th nationally.

Who This Guide Is For

CHROs, HR leaders, executives, and business owners who want to build competitive, transparent offers and benchmark HR pay against the Minneapolis and national markets.

HR professionals who want to understand their market value, prepare for salary conversations, and position themselves as AI reshapes the function.

Sources

This guide draws on SkyWater's own placement and recruiting data, firsthand market observations from our practice leaders, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Salary.com, and Indeed. We cross-referenced this data against publicly available compensation research from other national search and staffing firms. Conditions vary by company, industry, and candidate, so treat these ranges as a starting point for a conversation, not a final answer.

SEE ALL SALARY GUIDES

Frequently Asked Questions

What HR roles are included in the 2027 salary guide?
The guide covers 22 roles across leadership, management, and individual contributor levels, from HR coordinators and payroll analysts to VPs of HR and CHROs.

How much does a CHRO make in Minneapolis?
Chief Human Resources Officer base salaries in the guide range from $250,000 at smaller companies to $398,000 at larger ones.

Does Minnesota require salary ranges in job postings?
Yes. Since January 2025, Minnesota employers have been required to disclose salary ranges and benefits in job postings under the state's pay transparency law.

How is AI affecting HR jobs?
AI is changing HR at every level, from automating repeatable tasks in coordinator and payroll roles to reshaping how senior HR leaders design jobs and plan succession. Each role in the guide includes an AI impact rating.

Do the salary ranges include bonuses?
No. Ranges reflect typical base salary in the Greater Minneapolis market. Bonuses and other incentive pay are not included.