Career Outlook for the SHRM Essentials of Human Resources Certificate Program, Northwestern University School of Professional Studies: School of Professional Studies

Career Options

HR Specialists perform activities in the human resource area. Includes employment specialists who screen, recruit, interview and place workers.

HR Assistants compile and keep personnel records. Record data for each employee, such as address, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports, and date of and reason for termination. May prepare reports for employment records, file employment records, or search employee files and furnish information to authorized persons.

Average Salaries

HR Specialists

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020), the national median salary is $63,490.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Metropolitan Area has the 4th highest employment of HR Specialists in the country and an average wage of $66,760 per year.

HR Assistants

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020), the national mean annual wage is $44,170.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Metropolitan Area has the 5th highest employment of HR Assistants in the country and an average wage of $45,200 per year.