Work From Home Human Resources Jobs: What to Know

If you’re a current or former human resources (HR) professional – or someone who is interested in an HR job – take note. More than 250,000 new HR jobs were created in 2023. This year, HR professionals have extremely low rates of unemployment, according to staffing firm Robert Half. “With a majority (69%) of professionals in the HR job market inclined to stay in their current roles, the challenge for companies to recruit for open roles intensifies. To attract these passive candidates — those not actively seeking new opportunities — employers must offer competitive salaries, flexible work arrangements and opportunities for career advancement,” Robert Half writes. And that’s good news for you whether you’ve been in the field for years or are looking to make a change and want to work from home. Read on to learn more about work from home human resources jobs and how you can snag one!

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What kind of work-from-home human resources jobs are available?

There are many different positions within the human resources realm, but the jobs posted most often are HR assistant, HR generalist, HR manager and recruiter. An HR assistant is charged with keeping files and records up to date, making appointments and supporting other HR workers. Since many of these tasks are something that anyone who is organized and knowledgeable about office applications can do it is a good entry level option for someone just starting out in the field, Bill Castellano, the chair of the Department of Human Resource Management at Rutgers University says.

“You don’t need an HR degree for a position like that,” he says. “That’s really more of an administrative-type role that you can easily learn. And again, what you’re really learning is the platforms that these companies are using.”

People pursuing positions such as HR managers or recruiters will need to have some background in the industry. However, those who do can definitely find roles that are either completely remote or hybrid, with most of the work done from home, Dan Schawbel, a future of work specialist and managing partner of research firm Workplace Intelligence says.

“HR managers often find remote work particularly suitable due to the nature of their responsibilities, which can be effectively carried out through virtual means,” Schawbel says. “HR tasks such as recruiting, onboarding, training, performance management and employee relations can all be conducted remotely using various online tools and platforms.”

In fact, it’s never been a better time to get hired into a remote HR position, Julia Pollak, ZipRecruiter’s Chief Economist says. “At any one time, there are about 2,000 remote HR jobs advertised on ZipRecruiter. That’s about 10 times as many as before the pandemic. These jobs are highly competitive and typically attract many quality applications per vacancy.”

How much do work-from-home human resources jobs pay?

Work from home human resources jobs: Offer of Employment — Wendy Townrow/Getty

Since human resources is such an important job function, positions tend to pay well. Human resource specialists, who work on recruiting, screening and interviewing job candidates earn a median salary of $64,240 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Human resources assistants make an average annual salary of $46,900, with some assistants making as much as $60,000 a year.

What are the qualifications for a human resources job?

Human resources is best suited for people who enjoy working with other people. They should have people skills such as being a good listener, have good communication skills, be organized and be willing to deal with conflicts. They should also have computer skills and know how to use office applications. Finally, they should be able to multitask and manage priorities since they may be working directly with a job candidate at one minute and talking to payroll or working with another HR employee to create policies the next.

The good news is that while it’s easier to get an HR job if you have a human resources or business degree, it’s not a requirement for many jobs. In fact, some companies are willing to hire people who may have no HR experience whatsoever. That said, you can make it easier for yourself to get into the field by pursuing a certificate or taking HR-specific classes, which don’t necessarily have to cost anything.

For example, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers many webinars, educational seminars and e-learning offerings. Some do cost money, while others are free. You’ll also find online HR training courses on LinkedIn. When you pass them, you can add the designation to your LinkedIn profile. Many colleges and universities offer HR certificates as well – and some cost as little as $500.

Aside from these skills there’s one more capability that can help you shoot to the top of the candidate pool, according to research firm Gartner: Artificial intelligence. The company found that more than three-quarters of HR leaders think that they must use AI over the next 12 to 24 months or they will fall behind. Companies are using AI to transcribe job interviews, interface with existing employees and analyze benefits usage, according to a recent Society for Human Resources Management story. If you have experience using AI or have taken any classes around the subject that’s a good thing to put on your resume and in your cover letter.

Where to find work-from-home human resources jobs

One of the best places to find HR jobs is on the SHRM job postings website, where you can post your resume and search for open positions. Career websites such as ZipRecruiter.com, LinkedIn, and Indeed are other good options. There are other industry-specific job sites, too. These include HRJobs.com, iHireHR.com and HRCrossing. Castellano suggests applying directly to companies that function as outsourced HR firms. These include firms such as ADP Workforce Now, Insperity.com, Paychex and Workday.

Any job depending primarily on knowledge or information can be done remotely. This includes work like talent acquisition, training/development, compensation analysis or leadership development, says Dave Ulrich, the Rensis Likert professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Keeping this in mind, don’t limit your search to jobs that say they are remote. The right candidate may be able to snag an in-office job, making it remote instead.