Salary report · San Francisco, CA

What is the average HR Manager salary in San Francisco, CA?

HR Managers in San Francisco earn a median of $184,600 per year — about 42% above the national average. Pay ranges from $132,900 (25th percentile) to $286,100 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$132,900
Median
$184,600
75th percentile
$236,300
90th percentile
$286,100
YoY change
+3.9%

HR Manager salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$120,000
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$184,600
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$236,300
Lead · 8+ yrs
$267,700

How San Francisco pay compares

San Francisco median$184,600
National median$130,000
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 244)$75,700

Cost-of-living adjusted is the San Francisco salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$158K
2022
$165K
2023
$171K
2024
$178K
2025
$185K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.9%.

HR Manager job market in San Francisco

San Francisco offers the highest tech salaries in the country but cost of living is brutal — particularly housing. Many roles offer remote/hybrid flexibility.

An estimated 3,100 hr managers work in the San Francisco metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Lead hiring efforts
  • Handle employee relations
  • Run performance reviews
  • Manage benefits programs
  • Ensure HR compliance

Related job salaries in San Francisco

HR Manager salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a HR Manager make in San Francisco, CA?+

HR Managers in San Francisco earn a median of $184,600 per year — about 42% above the national average of $130,000.

What's the entry-level HR Manager salary in San Francisco?+

Entry-level HR Managers in San Francisco typically earn around $120,000 per year. Salaries scale to about $267,700 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $184,600 a good HR Manager salary in San Francisco?+

$184,600 is the median, meaning half of HR Managers in San Francisco earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 244, that's roughly $75,700 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is HR Manager pay growing in San Francisco?+

HR Manager salaries in San Francisco grew about 3.9% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +5%.

Where do HR Managers in San Francisco get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile HR Manager salary in San Francisco is around $286,100. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in San Francisco?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the San Francisco median.

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